I'll have to agree with you on Wine Spectators attitudes and alliances, when we were in Napa and Paso touring wineries several of the vinyard owners we met scoffed at some of Wine spectators top 100 choices stating that advertising and support do as much as having a great wine.
Agreed they do have some usefull articles, but I'm putting in my order for the book you mentioned. Have fun tonight.

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.