Almost exactly 50 years ago, in 1975, California signed into law the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act that protected buyers of automobiles with major flaws that made them difficult if not impossible to fix.
Called a "lemon law," the act became so popular that it was soon copied around the country; versions of it now protect other products as well.
But not wine. And for good reason. Wine is a product of agriculture: grapes. And one of its charms is that it varies from year to year, from region to region, from grape to grape. People who expect perfect consistency from bottle to bottle often forget how different it can be — and how charming that variability can be, especially for lovers of fine wine.
Updated: Tue Aug 20, 2024