Wine Scores: What About Those Below 80 Points?

I was recently asked by a reader to address wine scores. The reader asked “…where do you buy a wine that is rated 50-74? I have never seen a wine rated at that level. Do they exist?” Great question!

There are several major wine scoring systems in use including those from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker. These systems rely on individual wine tasters who are involved in tasting thousands of wines each year. Not every wine produced - just the ones from wine producers that are seeking a high score from one of these ratings organizations.

While the rating systems vary, the one at Wine Spectator uses the following criteria to score a wine:

• 95-100 Classic: a great wine

• 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style

• 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities

• 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine

• 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws

• 50-74 Not recommended

So, you clearly see that wines rated 80 points and above are at least “a solid, well-made wine.” But, below 80 points they are “Mediocre” and at 75 points or below they are “Not recommended.” So, if a winery submits a wine for a rating score and receives a score below 80 points, you are probably never going to hear about it. Those wines still get offered for sale, but the producer simply chooses not to identify their score (why would they!).

So the answer to the question is that there are plenty of wines with scores in the 50 to 75 point range. The bottles are likely on store shelves and probably located down around ground level (the best wines always get put on the top shelves) and priced low.

But realize, these scores are very subjective and being assigned by wine experts that get the opportunity to taste a lot of exceptional wines. The ones they consider “Mediocre” or are “Not recommended” are wines that you and I just might enjoy! So, don’t let wine scores, or the lack of a wine score, keep you from enjoying wines from across the spectrum. Cheers!

Let Your Own Palate Be Your Primary Guide When Selecting Wine

Last time we looked at wine scores and how well they can be relied upon as an indicator when selecting wines. Some wine scores are from reputable sources (e.g., Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate) while others are less dependable. And, when it comes right down to it, a wine may receive a high score from a reputable source but not be something you care for.

And, the fact that you don’t care for a highly rated wine doesn’t make the rating “wrong.” It just shows that professional wine tasters have a different palate from yours.

So, let your palate be the primary guide when selecting a wine. If you are a big fan of particular varietal of wine or wine region, stick with them. But, if you are looking to select a wine from your favorite varietal or region, and you see one with a good wine score, give it a try. You’ll usually be pleased.

Next time we’ll take a look at wine prices and how well they correlate with quality. Until then, Cheers!

Ever Wonder? Are the Wine Point Systems Really a Good Indicator?

You’ve seen them. The wine scores posted alongside the bottles on the shelf. 90 points. 88 points. 92 points. But what does it really mean? Is it a good indicator for making your wine selection?

Well, the old adage “Buyer Beware” certainly applies when it comes to wine scores.

One reason is that there are some reputable wine rating systems (e.g., Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate) and then there are wine ratings from “The Crew” at the local market or “Bob’s Favorite” at the Big Box wine store.

Let’s look at Wine Spectator scoring system that follows a 100-point scale:

• 95-100 Classic: a great wine

• 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style

• 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities

• 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine

• 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws

• 50-74 Not recommended

This seems like a nice broad spectrum from which to differentiate wines. But, you probably aren’t going to come across a whole lot of 95-100 point wines in a typical store. And, you’re unlikely to find anything rated 84 points or below anywhere. Because those scores just don’t sell wine. So, you’re going to see some wines scored in the 85 - 89 “Very Good” range and most rated wines will be in the 90-94 “Outstanding” category. But you’ll also be faced with all those other wines on the shelf that don’t have any ratings! What about them?

Even with a 91 point score from Wine Spectator, you’ll have to ask yourself if your wine palette is similar enough to these professionals? Yours is likely different. So, you may try a 91 point Cabernet Sauvignon and say “No, I don’t care for that at all.” And that’s OK.

Another thing to beware of is the actual bottle on the shelf versus the one that received the rating. I see this all the time. The sign says “Wine Spectator 90 Points.” But, then you read the fine print and learn that it’s the 2013 that received that score. And, the bottle on the shelf is a 2015. The 2015 may be drastically different.

So, buyer beware. The wine scores from reputable organizations certainly are an indication of the quality of the wine. But, don’t let that be the only factor you use when choosing wine. Let your own palette guide you. And we’ll get into that a bit more next time.

Cheers!