Wine Tasting Panel vs. Wine Disruptors

Well I tried a very below average wine which several local wine geeks did not like as well but the people at Wine Tasting Panel stand by their 95 point score. Let’s see what 95 point wines I have posted in the last few months which are below this review. Not sure who is more credible but you can decide.

My review:

2019 Acumen Cabernet Sauvignon Mountainside – USA, California, Napa Valley (3/20/2025) Day 1: Diam 10 cork which is the only thing going for this wine. Well this is below average at best. Another $35 Napa wine that says retail is much higher. Burnt toast, earth, muted fruit, bitter and oak. 78 points Day 2: Maybe a little better but so diluted on this wine. Tastes like one of those Total Wine cheapies on the bottom shelf in the Cab department. This has no depth and is water downed. Earth, mild fruit, bell pepper, mild spice and oak. Short finish. Easy pass. 79 points Day 3: Well this is dead in the water. Stewed fruits, some dust, earth and watered down effort. Short and not inspiring finish. 65 points Day 4: Brought this to a local wine shop for employees to try and no one like it. Fact wine reviews in effect. Recommendation: When you see a 95 point wine from Tasting Panel and discounted from $85 to $35.00 run!!! Wine Disrupted: https://winedisruptors.com/wines-disrupted/ (78 points)

Tasting Panel Review: 95 Tasting Panel Magazine

“This Cab blended with 19% Merlot and 4% Cab Franc possesses a burly character with a satin heart. Bing cherry, cinnamon, and tobacco make an impres- sion up front before the juicy midpoint exudes a plethora of berry notes along with mountain brush; sleek, burnished cedar; and mulberry.”

This is what Wine Tasting Panel said after calling them out.

Hi John,

Meridith May has one of the best palates I have ever known, and I have been a wine professional for over 35 years. We taste about 250 wines per month together and if a wine gets 95 from us it needs to be excellent.

The Tasting Panel Magazine sends out 55,000 PRINT magazines nationally since 2007 – FOR FREE — to a 100% trade audience around the U.S.

I know you like to “take down” all the top reviewers, from Dunnick to Suckling and Wine Enthusiast. I guess it’s a pleasurable hobby for you to put others down in our industry. We would rather be associated with more supportive people, while you clearly like to make enemies.

Bill Brandel C.S.W.

COO/Marketing & Sales

Tasting Panel & Somm Journal

[email protected]

(818) 322-5050

Now some real wine reviews that are actually 95 points.

• 2019 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (3/22/2025)
  High Low Blind Tasting at Amy and Scott’s (Eagan, MN): Day 1: Well this was singing tonight and will only get better. Clearly a much better wine than the 2019 Michel Butteaux. More intense and beautiful minerality. Shells, orange peel, spice, dust, lemon, grapefruit and stone. Medium plus finish and could drink this every week. Love Les Clos. 94+
  5 of 9 liked better (4 liked the Michel Butteaux 19 better)
  3 out of 9 thought less expensive (6 thought more expensive than the Michel Butteaux)
  Day 2: Had to save some for a proper review and this is amazing as well on day 2. Shells, minerals, white flowers, grapefruit, lemon, dust, mild spice and sour apple. Very elegant wine but still powerful. Medium to long finish and the minerality is the star of this show. 95 points (95 points)

• 2020 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor – Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (2/21/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. Intense and rich. dark fruits, oak, spice, dust, coffee beans, cherry and minerals. Not as good as the first bottle but we only on day 1. 94 points
  Day 2: Well left the cork out all night and no worries on this as it is much better today. Menthol, blue currants, spice, oak, minerals, cherry, coffee beans and earth. Picks up some tobacco on the medium plus finish. Excellent. 95 points
  Recommendation: Easy buy especially at Sunfish Cellars in MN (they don’t ship sadly) as with tax around $90.00.
  Promoted Wine: https://winedisruptors.com/wines-promoted/ (95 points)
• 2021 Januik Red Wine Reserve – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (2/18/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. 14.4% alcohol. One of the better values from Washington is the Januik Red Reserve. Cassis, mild oak, dark chocolate, plum, spice, minerals and floral notes. One of the better pop and pours in a long time and this is as good as most twice the price. 95 points
  The one wine I like better than James Suckling. 95 points for me and he only gave it 94.
  Day 2: Cassis, dark chocolate, oak, spice, minerals, floral, earth and graphite. Actually, not as good as the pop and pour on Tuesday but still very good. 93 points
  Day 3: Back in perfect form like day 1. Cassis, mild oak, dark chocolate, plum, Bing cherries, minerals, floral, a touch of spice and sandalwood. Beautiful and well-constructed. Not probably top 10 of the year but factoring in the value maybe. 95 points
  Recommendation: So full retail is around $70 but they do 50% off for club members twice a year and you are not getting anything this good in the Cab market for that price. (95 points)
• 2009 Château Lascombes – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (2/8/2025)
  Day 1: A bold wine with roasted chestnuts, gravel, earth, dark currants, coffee beans, rose petals, mild funk and tar. Medium plus finish and nice concentrated wine. 94 points
  Day 2: Big and powerful on day 2. A bit more intensity even than day 1. Gravel, earth, coffee beans, dark fruits, rose petals, pepper, spices and baking chocolate. Medium to long finish. This has another 20 years of enjoyment. 94+
  Day 3: Super concentrated wine with gravel, minerals, spice, coffee beans, dark currants, pepper, rose petals, graphite and baking chocolate. Drinking well now but could easily go 20 more years. 95 points
  Recommendation: Easy buy and solid pricing at WTSO for $119.99 with free shipping. Ignore Iceman’s note. This is way better than 90 points. (95 points)
• 2019 Château Malescot St. Exupéry – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (2/6/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. Sour berries, gravel, spice, cedar, dust, earth and cherry. Medium plus finish. Outstanding value. 93 +
  Day 2: Very subtle wine and not a powerhouse by any means. Blueberries, sour cherry, roasted Chesnuts, gravel, dust and earth. Short to medium finish. I like the wine but not really an outstanding value. Did not improve at all on day 2. 90 points
  Day 3: Day 3 is the best again on these young wines. A lively wine with raspberries, sour berries, wood, roasted Chesnuts, pencil lead, earth, gravel, a touch of pepper and minerals. Long, concentrated finish. A real star from Margaux. 95 points
  Recommendation: Cellar for 10 plus or try one young over 3 days. (95 points)