Mark Lipton writes, "Given all that I've read about two buck Chuck, how can we
be sure that the batch tasted in the competition is the same as the one
available to consumers?"

Great point but it's not just limited to two buck Chuck. How can you be sure
that any medal winning wine is the same? I judge about eight US wine
competitions a year and before I buy (or mention) any medal winning wine I've
had at a competition, I buy a bottle at the wine store and compare. (More than
once there have been vast differences)

Each winemaker knows his or her best barrel. I can't believe that some (many?)
don't bottle that best barrel separately and send it off to newsletters and
wine competitions.

Bob Foster, San Diego