Wine critics share their opinions on the quality of a wine using a wine score. The 100-point scale is the most commonly used rating method, but you may see some critics use a 20-point or even a 5-point scale. When rating wines, reviewers partake in a blind taste test and use a scorecard with a list of traits and criteria, including appearance, aroma, flavors and finish, to score. Most scores you’ll see online or in store are from a single wine publication or critic. Others will include an average of the scores from top critics in the industry.
A majority of wine critics and wine publications, those often considered the gold standard for their opinions - Decanter, James Suckling, The Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Wine Spectator Magazine, Wine & Spirits Magazine - use the 100-point scale. Wines are scored between 50-100 points on this rating system. The average rating on a 100-point scale is around 87-89 points.
| Score | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The 20-point scale is a more technical-based system, mainly used for academic wine evaluation.
| Score | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 20 | Truly exceptional |
| 19 | A humdinger |
| 18 | A cut above superior |
| 17 | Superior |
| 16 | Distinguished |
| 15 | Average |
| 14 | Deadly dull |
| 13 | Borderline faulty or unbalanced |
| 12 | Faulty or unbalanced |
Five-point scales typically use stars to denote the rating.
| Score | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 5 Stars | Superlative |
| 4 Stars | Excellent |
| 3 Stars | Good Everyday Drinking |
| 2 Stars | Casual Quaffing |
| 1 Star | Very Ordinary |
