Robert Finigan's Essentials of Wine: A Guide to Discovering the World's Most Pleasing Wines

This chatty guide, emphasizing geography and individual winemakers, offers connoisseurs a substantial body of practical information with which to make intelligent choices. There are assessments of American wines, as well as of a number of importsnotably from France, Germany, Italy and Spainand pithy notes on labeling and government regulations. Unfortunately, readers who are ready to move up from "trivial" California Chablis may conclude that wine selection is risky for the uninitiated. Descriptions of wines as "eccentric" and "farcical" provide little assistance, promoting snobbery as much as expertise. Likewise, accounts of "magical village names" and estates "like jewels on velvet" prove that the poetry is best left to the wine. Food and wine critic Finigan publishes "Private Guides to Wines," a monthly newsletter. Illustrations not seen by PW. BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Going from vine to wine list, Finigan discusses varietals, wine making styles, aging, bottling, cellaring, and the singular importance of the human factor. Emphasizing principal wine areas of the world, he offers recommendations on wineries and recent vintages. He does not give the rationale for his selection of representative wines for tasting, or offer suggestions for substitutes. In a fine little chapter on food pairing, he analyzes the weight and power of wine, and gives sound advice on wines to drink with special cuisines and without food. Explanations are concise, sometimes to the point of being curt and inadequate. The friendly, hurried style will appeal to many novices. Recommended for extensive collections. BOMC alternate. Carolyn I. Alexander, USACDEC Technical Information Ctr., Fort Ord, Cal.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.