The 100-Point Rating System Explained and Modified

“I spent a lot of my money on wine, women, and fast cars.  The rest I just squandered.”  -George Best-

THE 100 POINT RATING SYSTEM:  Have you ever read those ratings from Robert 

Parker, Wine Spectator, or Wine Enthusiast, and wonder how the ratings are derived?    

I have, so I looked into it.  If you want to rate your wines, you can impress

 your friends with your enology acumen. This will be especially meaningful to all

of you Bunko ladies at your parties.  You now have another activity, namely,

 the rating of the wines served that day.  Not that we want to put added 

pressure on the hostess... 

The 100-point rating system, was made popular by Robert Parker in the early 1980ʼs, 

and then adopted by Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, amongst others. Hundred 

points is a misnomer, however, as itʼs actually a 50 point system and then 50 points are 

added to the initial score. 

Parker gives points for the following:  First Impression/Color (max 5 pts.), Aroma/

Bouquet (max 15 pts.), Flavor (max 10 pts.), Finish (max 10 pts.), and Aging Potential 

(max 10 pts.).  See, the maximum points add up to 50.  An additional 50 points are then arbitrarily added to the score, hence, a 100 point rating system, something we all understand.  Remember school where 70 was a “C,” 80 a “B,” etc?  Heck, if you scored a 50 that would be an “F” so 50 added points makes it understandable and comfortable.

Letʼs modify his system to make it user-friendly to the non-professional.  After all, how 

many could rate “aroma/bouquet,” which to a wine expert, are different?  And most of us 

probably canʼt rate “age potential,” nor do we care how much the wine will improve in 

the twenty minutes it takes us to get home and pop that cork, after a hard day at work.

  

Also, letʼs give more points to taste because thatʼs something we understand, although 

the nose and palette work as a closely knit team. 

*Letʼs do it like this:  Color ( max 5 pts.) look for clarity and depth; Nose (max 10 pts.) 

balance and complexity; Taste (max 15 pts.) does it have fruit, spice, etc; Length/Finish 

(max 10 pts.) is it a long finish, is it pleasant; and Overall Impression (max 10 pts.).  Total points = 50.  

Now, letʼs try it out.  I just opened a bottle of Il Tarocco Chianti from TJʼs that cost $8.99.  

Hmm, nice deep red color with nothing marring the clarity; 5 points.  The nose is 

delightful with nice fruit aromas; 8 points.  The taste is a little sharp and edgy but not 

unexpected, and it fills the mouth.  It will open up with a little breathing; 10 points. The 

length of finish is very good for a Chianti at this price and is fruity; 7 points.  My 

overall impression is very high for this wine; 8 points.  So, total points for this wine are: 

5+8+10+7+8=38, plus 50 = 88 points in the 100 point system.  A very decent score for a wine at this price.

Here's a scoring sheet that I've developed for my own use.  Feel free to utilize it.

Wine Tasting Scoring Sheet

Date:______________________  Where/With Whom:_______________________

Wine:_______________________________________Vintage:_______________

Price:______________________________

Where Purchased:___________________________________________________


COLOR (5 pts):________________________________________________________

NOSE  (10 pts):________________________________________________________

TASTE (15 pts):________________________________________________________

LENGTH/FINISH (10 pts):________________________________________________

OVERALL IMPRESSION (10 pts):__________________________________________

Total Points:___________________ plus 50 points=_____________________

Some scoring hints:

Color:  Look for clarity, depth, cloudiness.  Is it the expected color for the varietal?

Nose:  Balance, are there several aromas, perhaps different fruits, for example?

Taste:  Is it balanced?  Took much alcohol, (which makes the wine taste “hot”)?  Spices,

fruit-forward? Is it more pronounced in the front, back, sides, or all over the     mouth?

Length/finish:  How long is the aftertaste and is it pleasant? Are there layers?

Overall Impression:  Your general impression of the wine.  Did it knock your socks off?

75-80=good, 80-90=above average, 90-95=excellent, 95-100= classic.

Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
                                                              - W.C. Fields-

Wine Recommendations at Trader Joe's

Greetings readers,

I have two hot wine tips for you to pursue.  First, the Trader Joe's Reserve Petit Verdot at $9.99  a bottle.  You can't find a Petit Verdot for less than $30.00 a bottle because of the small acreage devoted to this grape.  In fact, Ancient Peaks, the winery that bottld this for TJ's, sells it under their own label for $35.00 a bottle.

This wine is a "black hole, and sucks all the light around it into the bottle."  Heavy as a broken heart and very tannic.  I decant it two hours before drinking to let it breath and soften and then I usually still pour it through an aerator.  Look for this wine soon, as the last time we had it, it was gone in a very few days.

Second, go for the Cellier Du Rhone Chateauneuf Du Pape, also at $9.99 a bottle.  This wine was being sold at TJ's last week for $19.99 a bottle but has been marked down.  A blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.  A steal at this price.

Good luck with your search for these two wines.

Tom da Wine Guy