Telltale signs you’re being bamboozled by wine sales pitches:

When they lead with a blurb about the quality of the vintage…that means the wine in question can’t stand on its own merit.  Conversely, “one of the vintage’s finest efforts” means that it was a terrible year and these guys managed to squeak out something palatable. 

When they praise the blend of grapes “this classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot”….it’s a classic misdirection. 

When they tell you that this was made by the same guy who makes the other wine that’s so famous….that means that the guy had to do something with the grapes they deemed unworthy of their premier cuvee and it was stored in the same chai.  It's not the same thing.   

When they use terms like “gives a glimpse of” or "redolent of"…that means it’s not as good as the thing they’re comparing it too. 

When they use phrases like “a good, solid bottle”…they are damning with faint praise—it’s the best they’ve got...under the circumstances.