What are wine scores?
You’ve all seen them. Australia’s own James Halliday gave this Pinot Noir 96 points. Wine Spectator gave a surprising 98 points to that Chardonnay. It’s the infamous wine score.
Wine scores provide a clear, concise means for wine critics to express their opinions on a given wine. The score is a subjective summary and quality rating for a specific bottle. You often find these scores alongside the wine’s tasting notes.
Scoring systems vary … a little. Many in the industry, such as Wine Spectator, Halliday Wine Companion, and United Cellars’ own in-house experts use the 100-point numerical system pioneered and popularised by renowned American wine critic Robert Parker. Others, such as British journalist and wine critic Jancis Robinson, use a modified 20-point scale. Still others follow the luxury-hotel model, awarding up to five stars for an outstanding bottle of wine, or an Olympics-like approach, giving out Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals for top drops.
Why are wine scores important?
No matter the scale, there are a number of reasons wine scores are important. First, they can be an effective tool – and starting point – for helping wine consumers and wine collectors determine on which wines they should spend their money. With a score, these buyers have a guide for what specific wine experts qualify as a good (or not-so-good) wine.
Second, wine is a complicated industry with an equally complex lexicon. Wine scores serve to simplify both this vocation and this vocabulary in a succinct, pared-down, easy-to-understand format, providing a bit of clarity for when you’re purchasing wine.
Third, armed with a wine score, you can compare ‘apples to apples’ – other wines of similar classification, latitude, provenance, or other unifying factor.
And finally, wine scores are certainly important as powerful marketing tools and can quickly translate into increased sales for high scorers.
Is there a downside to wine scores?
Wine scores have faced their share of criticism, too. After all, each score awarded is simply the opinion of just one person – and likely a person you don’t know.
What’s more, critics of wine scores assert that by receiving high ratings from influential wine industry experts, wines and winemaking globally have become more homogeneous to match the styles that appeal to these experts.
Crowdsourced opinions
To balance the pros with the cons of wine scores, it’s a good idea to take a more holistic approach to evaluating the wines you may or may not purchase. One way to do this is to look beyond the experts and the big numbers and gather opinions and information from a wider field. For example, sites such as Vivino or CellarTracker provide platforms for wine drinkers worldwide to share their wine ratings as well as their own tasting notes. At United Cellars, we’re also building community with reviews from the likes of you and your fellow wine lovers – please feel free to leave a review today!
Such inclusive peer reviews from everyday drinkers may feel more approachable and in line with your own wine-drinking habits than critiques from on-a-pedestal influencers, despite their inarguably vast industry insight and decades of tasting experience.
Every wine tells a story
Another important factor to weigh in choosing wine is the narrative behind that wine. Most good wine has a fascinating story to tell – one of history, geography, people, climate, terroir, season, interventions, and more. Those stories cannot be abridged down to a mere number. (Plus, what about all those wines out there that never even get a number?) When choosing wine, especially if you like a good tale, do a bit of research, learn the story, and let it also play a role in your wine selection. I guarantee, it will influence the way you taste and experience the wine.
What really matters – which wines do you like?
Finally, though a wine score can be a solid jumping-off point if you’re looking for professional guidance, don’t let a number trump your tastebuds. Only by trusting and tasting yourself will you know if you like a particular wine. It may get 99 Halliday points, but if you don’t enjoy the wine, that near-perfect score doesn’t mean much to you, does it? When you’re drinking and enjoying wine, yours is ultimately the only score that matters.
- Alistair Cooper,
Master of Wine & Esteemed Critic
