Guest Taster: Chris Struck


Here’s Struck’s take on the tasting process:
Favorite music for tastings
I hate tasting to music. I much prefer no music at all.
Favorite tasting attire
Wine-color pants.
Favorite drink after a tasting day
A cocktail, preferably a Gimlet.
Tasting with the W&S Critics
I’ve always been in awe about what a tour de force the W&S tasting process is, As far as I know, it is unlike any other in wine publishing. I think it’s incredibly fair to winemakers and beneficial to consumers. I enjoy the playful editorial banter among W&S critics and the panel members, which is crucial to determining the collective opinion of the wine. I think of it as somewhere between American Idol and the Supreme Court.
Biggest tasting challenge
Palate fatigue with monochromatic wines.
Guest Taster: Sarah Sutel Looper


Here’s Looper on panel tastings at W&S:
Favorite music for tastings
Unless it’s really bad music, I don’t notice it and it just becomes background noise for me. I’m much more interested in the chatter at the table.
Favorite drink after a tasting day
First, lots of water! Then some sort of Gueuze or sour beer.
Favorite lunch spot on a tasting day
Lupulo—great beer list.
Gateway wine
Renardat-Fâche Cerdon de Bugey. It’s pink, bubbly, squeaky tart and off-dry. What’s not to love?
On W&S Tasting Protocol
I admire that we can’t see the price of the wine except where it’s a value [$15 SRP or less]. Price really does change one’s perspective. The discoveries that have made the deepest impression on me are the wines I “should” like, but don’t.
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