The Wine Media
Now, while judging a wine is truly a matter of personal taste and preference, sometimes we look for a reference when choosing a particular brand or type of wine – a little help in determining which bottle is better than another. This is where the wine media come in, as they are the originators of the practice of scoring wines.

You’ve likely seen wines labeled with a point evaluation. But what makes one wine score an 88 while another is given a 91?  

100 Points of Quality
The 100-point scoring system was the brainchild of Robert Parker Jr.; who many argue has the most influential palate in the wine industry. While there were a few wine journalists in the early post-war era, it wasn’t until Parker published The Wine Advocate in the late 1970’s that a sense of criticism entered the field. Unlike other wine journalists before him, Parker decided to purchase the wine he reviewed (as opposed to receiving them as gifts) so as to eliminate any chance of bias or favouritism. He devised the 100-point system as a means of creating a consumer-friendly system of judging the relative value of wine.  

Parker judges wines from 50 to 100 points, with those attaining the much-desired 90 points being considered outstanding and often seeing their fortunes rise considerably based on the extra worldwide demand the score can create.  Most wines score in the high 70’s (above average) and 80’s (very good).

Alternative Ranking Systems
Parker isn’t the only person judging wines using a numerical scoring system.  Others, including the Wine Spectator, use the 100-point system, while many British critics, who believe it impossible to distinguish an 89 from a 90-point scoring wine, prefer to use a 20 point system.  Still others simply score wine out of 5 or 10.

Still Comes Down to Individual Taste!

The crucial thing to remember when using wine scoring or ranking systems, is that they still rely on a person, or several people, to taste and then score the wine – so it’s still about individual taste and preference.  The trick is to find and then rely on wine critics who are in tune with your tastes.  

Parker, for example, has been criticized for giving the best scores to wines that are intensely fruity and often high in alcohol.  So, if you love big blockbuster red with lots of fruit character, then you might want to follow Parker or the Wine Spectator’s advice.  Other wine periodicals, such as Decanter published in the United Kingdom, or Jancis Robinson, often prefer wines with a more European sense of elegance and balance. You may also prefer to follow some of our local critics, such as Sean Wood or Peter Rockwell.

Make a new habit to read wine reviews, make notes of particular bottles that score well or sound interesting, or clip items from papers and magazines. Then try one or two of the bottles and, using the Wine Tasting Checklist decide for yourself if you agree with the critic’s evaluation.  Become your own wine critic, for only you know your taste and preference best! And be sure to write down all your notes in your Personal Wine Journal.