This reference work for the discerning wine buyer combines tasting notes with specific buying recommendations. The author lists the best vintages, their different levels of quality and their prices. He states when the wine should be drunk and how long certain wines may take to mature. This book is both an educational and a buying manual; it is not an encyclopaedic listing of wine producers and growers. It is intended to make the reader a more knowledgeable, confident wine buyer by providing sufficient insider's information to permit the wisest possible choice when buying wine. The finest producers and growers of the world's greatest viticultural regions are evaluated, as well as most of the wines currently available in the market place. The book is arranged by country, and within each one by specific viticultural regions. Robert Parker summarizes the quality of recent vintages, gives a reference chart to that area's best growers and, where relevant, gives tasting commentaries, price guides and assesses the wine according to his individual 100 point rating system.