The Tyranny of the 100 point scale, Pt. 498

[Bob_Kaminski]

@b hudak

@Bruce Leiserowitz

. By the way, this was a relatively wine-savvy crowd, so it took me a bit by surprise that so many people were still fixated on points per se, rather than trying to describe the quality of the wine in their glass.


Bruce

It is kind of funny. The wine tasting class I beling to has some serious wine lovers. They are not anti-point per se. they simply don’t care. You can mention points all day long, and they simply tune it out. For them, it is only about what is in the glass.

What a concept. WTF is wrong with them, they must be snobs. Conform and bow at the altar of the 100 point scale. Parker power lives!

[Bruce_Leiser_owitz]

@A. H e i m e r t

Same here. I’d want to taste it partly to see what someone whom people consider modestly expert thinks a 100 point wine is.

I understand wanting to drink a “100 point wine” out of intellectual curiosity. But in the context of this tasting (and other tastings I’ve attended), when people find out a wine has been rated 100 points, then they often assume it is in fact a “perfect wine” and they tend to clamor for it. In other words, the 100 point rating immediately colors their impression of the wine before they even taste it.

The wine in question–the 1990 Montrose–was an excellent wine. A “wow plus” in my book, but not an “ay carumba.” But when people heard it was a “perfect” wine, I could see how that affected their view of the wine…

Bruce

[larry_schaffer]

@Bruce Leiserowitz

@A. H e i m e r t

Same here. I’d want to taste it partly to see what someone whom people consider modestly expert thinks a 100 point wine is.

I understand wanting to drink a “100 point wine” out of intellectual curiosity. But in the context of this tasting (and other tastings I’ve attended), when people find out a wine has been rated 100 points, then they often assume it is in fact a “perfect wine” and they tend to clamor for it. In other words, the 100 point rating immediately colors their impression of the wine before they even taste it.

The wine in question–the 1990 Montrose–was an excellent wine. A “wow plus” in my book, but not an “ay carumba.” But when people heard it was a “perfect” wine, I could see how that affected their view of the wine…

Bruce

Bruce,

One of my favorite things to talk about when working in the tasting room at Fess Parker are pooints - how they taste; the aromas they exhibit, etc . . .

I truly and honestly tell people that you can’t taste ‘points’ or ‘gold medals’ or anything else - just what’s in the glass.

That said, I can understand the argument of wanting to try a wine advertised as a 100 point wine from a curiousity standpoint . . .

And Randy is correct - most consumers are lemmings and are attracted to things that others like. Period.

Cheers!

[JP_Taboada]

I love it when I am at a trade tasting and someone hears that there is a “95+” rated wine. The whole room shifts and runs over to said table where the coveted bottle of “X” is, leaving the entire floor for me to roam about, unbothered and w/o bumping elbows in a room packed full of thirsty onlookers. Gotta love the point hounds for making my perusings so much more easier. /salute