I am shocked--shocked, I tell you--by what has become of consumer wine magazine "buying guides." But if you expect me to reveal evidence of altered scores, advertiser patronage and other nefarious dealings, perish the thought. As the former executive editor of Wine Enthusiast (from 1988-1998) as well as a close watcher of wine media ever since going freelance, I consider myself well attuned to the ways and means of wine-rating systems and the editorial products they spawn. And as a "recovering wine critic" who has often railed against the 100-point scale, perhaps readers would anticipate a sense of scandal as I delve into this subject.

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