I want to update my score methodology for more consistency and am curious for folks input/how they approach scoring levels. I feel at times my scores don’t have enough dispersion and I would like better personal guidelines for my scores.
As I think about a framework, I am gravitating to the following guidepoints:
- Generally speaking I feel the total score range is 85-100, at least at the price point of wines I generally drink (for the most part $35+, although the occassional $15-25 bottle).
- I generally want these scores to pattern match existing CT scores meaning, a 91-93 score from me would correlate to a 92 on CT (not 100% of the time, but generally)
- CT has its own recommended scoring guide, but this doesn’t seem applicable to how people score (CT recommends 80 = good, but I imagine folks would rate good a bit higher)
- I think there are 4 major scoring categories: best ever/epiphany good, above average/pleasurable, house/cusp of drinkable, and harsh/burning/acidic. And then one can decide what guideposts are within this range.
- Overall this would have: Lower scores are characterized by rough alcohol/tannin/acidity, more so than issues with fruit. 93 being a point where a wine feels balanced and pleasurable. Higher scores are more subjective (e.g., a qualitative appreciation for the many quantitative scoring of aroma, balance, finish, etc.), and for me, having not had as many 95+ scoring wines as I have 90-93, a category I will just have to get better at.
So step 1, I was thinking guide post ratings are:
85 = Harsh/burning/acidic - don’t want to swallow
89 = House wine/cusp of drinkability
93 = Above Average/Pleasurable
99 = Epiphany good wine
Leading to then fill out (at 2 point intervals)
85 = Harsh/burning/acidic - Don’t swallow
87 = Harsh/burning/acidic - Swallow if you want
89 = Slightly harsh/burning/acidic, but not overly so
91 = Well made, but perhaps lacking a component or not particularly pleasurable
93 = Above Average/Pleasurable
95 = Extremely good wine
97 = Makes time stop wine
99+ = Epiphany good wine