First, most wine buyers are not on BB’s like this and really dont have much info other than critics, which lead to points, or retailers who rely on points as well (at least a high percentage of them). Many wine buyers got their start in the 80’s and 90’s when points were a big thing. Many wine buyers buy in supermarkets where shelf talkers sell the wine as often as not. I have to guess that it is a high percentage of wine being bought on points.
This whole thread is ridiculous. If you don’t find a use for points then you don’t have to look at them, although I’m sure you still will.
Points sell wine… simple as that.
About 5 years ago, Steve (the Sweater) Wolfe had a 1991 Cali Cab dinner and we got to talking about points. Gary V was there and he said that the percentage of Wine Library retail store wine sales that were based upon shelf talkers with points was astronomical. If I recall, he said it was a bigger factor than all other factors combined. I do not remember the percentage he gave, but it was huge.
We see a broad spectrum of cultured and wine savvy folks on a daily basis and I don’t think the subject of points (from ANYONE) comes up more than two to five times a month. And I don’t think I have EVER been asked about points by a woman.
Big confession! Before joining CT and WB several years ago, I bought a lot of wine from K&L and wine.com, $20 @ 90 pts. Now most of those wines I bought rate about 87 on CT. I still try to buy $20 wines based on TNs, a few are even better than 90, but it takes a little research. So I think most people use points, tasting or recomendations when buying, after all they just want a good bottle, not the ultimate expression of the grape. When they find what they like, they stay with it.
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Bob nailed it, in one of the first posts of the thread. Gallo produces approximately 1 Billion – that’s with a B – bottles per year. All the talk about $20+ bottles, or Burgundy, etc., is small potato’s, comparatevely.
An interesting study from Australia.
Some interesting points made on the scoring system in general.
http://www.winemcgee.com/blog/2010/01/07/eight-reasons-the-100-point-wine-rating-scale-will-go-away/