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Wine scores - what the numbers really mean!
Wine scores - what the numbers really mean!
When browsing through your local bottle shop you might see labels with gold medals proudly displayed, or a sign to say “Rated 92/100!” It looks impressive, so we’ll often add a bottle or two to the basket, strongly influenced by the opinion of a professional. But what exactly do these numbers mean? Although there a few variations in wine scoring systems used by different judges and competitions, the main idea is that each wine is assigned a score according to a set of criteria.The power of recognition
Robert Parker is the most influential wine critic in US and possibly globally. His high-profile endorsement has the potential to launch a cult wine (possibly not to be confused with a great wine). There is only one winemaker, Heidi Barrett, who is reported by Fortune Magazine (29 September 2008) to have scored 100 points five times from Robert Parker. One of the wines for which she has acclaim is the most sought-after cult wine, Screaming Eagle 1992. A lot of 6 magnums of this previously unknown wine, which received a score of 99 from Robert Parker and achieved cult status overnight, recently sold at the Napa Valley Wine Auction in California for $50,000. This wine has sold out every year since the first vintage.Wine tasting factors
When wines are tasted, they can be scored on the basis of a large range of characteristics including colour, viscosity, brilliance, depth, aromas, faults, variety, intensity, complexity, concentration, fruit, length, aftertaste, balance, phenolics and acid. Personal preference will always have an influence on individual ratings but the scoring system does allow a measure of comparison between different wines particularly within a given group of varietals. Robert Parker assigns the following breakdown of scores:50% to start
5% colour and appearance
15% aroma
20% flavour and finish
10% overall quality and ageing potential
Scoring systems
The most widely used scoring system is the 100 point scale devised by Robert Parker. This scale starts at 50, but only relatively poor wines score less than 70. Similar 100-point scales have also been adopted by the influential Australian writer James Halliday and the US magazine 'The Wine Spectator'. But there are also other scoring systems that have their advocates, such as the UC Davis 20 point scale (and its derivatives, one of which is very popular in Australia). This scale breaks down the characteristics of a wine into categories such as colour, nose and palate, in an analytical and pseudoscientific fashion.Robert Parker
Robert Parker's rating system employs a 50-100 point quality scale which, according to the notes on his website, are utilised only to enhance and complement the thorough tasting notes, which are his primary means of communicating his judgments.
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this calibre are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.
90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 - 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 - 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is a soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 - 69: A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor, or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 - 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
James Halliday
James Halliday’s scoring system also employs a 100-point rating to supplement his tasting notes as follows:
94-100: Outstanding. Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree.
90-93: Highly recommended. Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar.
87-89: Recommended. Wines of above-average quality, fault-free and with clear varietal expression.
84-86: Fair to good. Wines with plenty of flavour (usually varietal) and good balance; free of technical faults.
80-83: Everyday wines. Price is particularly relevant; represent good value.
75-79: Also tasted: usually wines with some deficiency, technical or otherwise
Ray Jordan
In Western Australia Ray Jordan publishes his 100-point scoring system in his book Ray Jordan’s WA Wine Guide 2009, with tongue very much in cheek, as:
Gold / 95+: You sell the kids for this
Silver / 90 – 94: You sell your wife or husband and think about selling the kids
Bronze / 85 – 89: Faultless, excellent drinking
Other / 80 – 84: Good quality and worth a serious look
Winestate Rating
A recent publication of the Winestate Magazine (South Australia) (May/June 2008) presented a useful summary of their star rating system and the equivalent medal ratings used by wine shows in Australia and how these compare with 20-point and 100-point systems.
|
Winestate Rating |
Comment |
Wine show medal |
International 20-point system |
100-point system |
|
***** |
Outstanding |
Gold |
18.5 – 20 |
93 – 100 |
|
**** ½ |
Excellent |
High Silver |
18 – 18.4 |
90 – 92 |
|
**** |
Very good |
Silver |
17 – 17.9 |
85 – 89 |
|
*** ½ |
Good/very good |
High Bronze |
16.5 – 16.9 |
83 – 84 |
|
*** |
Good |
Bronze |
15.5 – 16.4 |
78 - 82 |
Conclusion
As you can tell from the above systems, the methods used to score a wine are personal to the critic. By using a numerical score, however, it allows a measure of comparison both nationally and internationally. Judges at wine shows assign medals based on a certain range of scores so that the consumer is able to recognise at a glance wines which have been tasted and judged as having pleasing characteristics. When wines break through the 90-point barriers, people stop and take note. Whilst recognition from a respected critic can give a wine marketability and consumer confidence, this does not mean that unjudged wines or those without a medal are of interior quality. When it comes to choosing a wine, there is no guarantee that your palate will agree with that of the critic. The personal appreciation aspect of wine drinking is impossible to score, so we encourage you to try a wine yourself and use your new found knowledge to decide on your own score!
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