- Buying wine solely on professional scores without sampling along the way. I started and continued buying high Parker-scoring Australian wine in the mid-1990s only to discover that they were not to my taste when I finally got around to opening some. Use professional reviews as an input, not a substitute, for your own purchase decisions but rely upon your own tastes.
- Buying too rapidly before taking the time to figure out what you like. As Allen Meadows of Burghound.com once said, “I have never met anyone whose taste did not change.” In my own case, my preferences have shifted dramatically from Bordeaux and cabernets to Burgundy and pinot noir over the past 10 years.
- Chasing trophy wines only. There are many worthier and less expensive alternatives that help round out one’s knowledge of a particular region. For example, I enjoy trying the undiscovered gems recommended by Doug Wilder in his weekly Wilder Side of California wineletter.
- Buying too much. This is a relative statement but it applies to both individual wines as well as to varietals, regions, vintages, and relative to one’s collecting objectives (if you even bothered to establish any). One should always keep in mind the epic vintages, however, and be poised to stock up.
- Placing too much emphasis on lowest price when buying. Buying wine is not like buying electronics. Low priced bottles, particularly from older vintages, may have been stored poorly before you bought them and could therefore be damaged or worthless goods.
- Buying from too many sources. You’re better off concentrating with a few retailers to obtain priority service, allocations and advice. This will also save you the management headache of tracking your pre-arrival purchases.
- Not asking for more advice and help from your preferred retailers. Develop a personal relationship with a knowledgeable person at your favorite retailers, even if it’s only by phone or email. Listen to them even when advice may be contradictory to a score or an article. They want to preserve their relationship with you and have no incentive to recommend any wine just to move it.
- Forgetting to drink a wine until it is past its prime. If you’re not going to drink it, you should at least sell it to recover your money.
- Poor post-purchase storage and handling. Why buy great wine if you’re not going to care for it properly? Pay attention to weather conditions when shipping and pay for priority delivery service. Store wine in temperature-controlled conditions, either in a home cellar or professional storage facility.
- Deferring the purchase of special vintages that you know you will want later (children’s birth years, anniversaries) will cost you more. I have three sons (ages 2-12) and each one has a mini collection of birth year wines that I put together for them while the wines were more affordable.
What are some of your mistakes? I would love to hear from you or your comments on my points above.
