2) They integrated John Gilman's View from the Cellar. If one is a co-subscriber, one can view John's notes on wines he's reviewed. Previously one would have to search the VFTC pdfs ("let's see, was Mugnier in part 1 or part 2 of the 2004 Burg reviews?"). If you are a CT user and would like to do a trial subscription, John is offering 2 weeks e-trial. I don't think that gets you the in-depth producer profile articles, that comes with a full subscription.
Gilman is probably the most "opinonated" critic out there, he really hates what he regards as spoofed and doesn't hestitate to give well-known wines scores in the 60s. Personally, I find JG's notes work well for me in Burgundy, Loire, Germany. I'm less in tune for some younger Bordeaux and Italians, but I still find value. I'm more receptive to "modern" styles than Gilman, but it's generally a matter of my liking wines he doesn't (Angelus). But if he like a wine, I generally also do (except maybe with older Champagnes, the one area I'm more narrow in tastes than he is).I've also found that I generally like the older wines he likes, and his vintage retrospective notes on 62/64/66/70/79 Bordeaux have led me to a couple of bargains, likewise on 60s/70s CalCabs and "off-vintage" Burgs.
I have no affiliation with CT or VFTC except as a user/client, though I sometimes taste with John (I once managed to get 4 wines into the Roadkill section).
