How to Submit Wine/Champagne Samples
While Allen spends months each year tasting and reviewing wines in France, for champagne and U. S. pinot, due to time constraints, we request samples be sent to Burghound.com for review. For producers/importers interested in submitting their pinot or champagne samples for review by Burghound.com, the following will provide the necessary information. If you have any other questions, please e-mail Erica Meadows at mrsburghound@aol.com. At this time, we are only accepting samples of Burgundy, Champagne and U.S. pinot noir.
As a rule, U. S. pinot is reviewed in the 3rd and/or 4th quarter issues; champagne is reviewed biennially in the 4th quarter issue. While it is best to receive samples from May 1– August 15, they may be submitted throughout the year since each issue has an "En Plus" section to cover wines tasted outside of the usual calendar sequence. Also, we are often asked if Allen will review U. S. chardonnay. Please know that we cannot guarantee that submitted chardonnays will be reviewed primarily due to time constraints; however when he does have the time and does run across an exceptional chardonnay he does his best to include the reviews.
For evaluation and commentary, please submit one or two bottles (we normally request two since by the time the wine is reviewed there is not enough time to request a back-up bottle if there is a problem) of each current release wine/champagne to the address below, along with any relevant information available on vintage characteristics and the specific technical particulars of each wine; such particulars might include grape source(s), alcohol levels, production figures and bottling information, such as the date and whether fining or filtering was employed. Please be sure to include contact information (phone number and website), importer information (if applicable) and suggested retail prices.
Allen understands how important it is to evaluate wines in the proper circumstances and we guarantee that each and every wine is given adequate time in the glass to display itself to best advantage. If necessary, this will include revisiting wines later in the day or even the following day. We also allow a minimum of two weeks "resting" time at appropriate temperatures after the wines are received to help mitigate any travel shock effects. In short, our goal is to arrive at the most accurate evaluation of each and every pinot and again, we understand that young wines, especially young pinot noirs, do not always reveal themselves or their full potentials completely right away.
All wines need to arrive by August 15th to ensure their inclusion in the final issue of each year, released in mid-October. However, as stated above, samples can be received throughout the year. The reviews will appear in an "En Plus" section or we will hold off the review until the appropriate issue. We are prepared to store the wines if would like to submit them before the hot summer heat.
Participants should note that if you are not a subscriber of Burghound.com, you simply need to write mrsburghound@aol.com in late October and request your reviews which we are happy to forward.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write. We very much appreciate your participation and we thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Erica and Allen Meadows
SHIPPING:
Burghound.com
20160 Allentown Drive
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
818-716-9096 (Erica) – mrsburghound@aol.com