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Wine Score Tyranny – Or, What To Ignore When You Buy A Wine Magazine

It is apparent the wine scoring system 100 point scales, 10-point scales, star systems. are commonplace in wine magazines in Europe and particularly in America wine.

It was reportedly started by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate that rated wines with a 100-point scale from the latter half of the 1970’s. Even though Parker and other wine experts who have accepted”100 point” as a system “100 point” system don’t make use of 100 points in any way (no wines scored lower than 70 … which isn’t drinkable) the system brought about an era of wine consumption revolution in America. It provided people who drink wine on a regular basis an easy and quick way to manage their perception of quality relative to others. Investors could have a reason to take a position on specific, high-scoring wines to invest in. The 100-point system gave wine marketers a convenient instrument to spotlight wines with high scores. In addition the enthusiasm and consumption of wine grew consistently in America. It’s a good thing. Well done!

The effects of this way of highlighting the best wines is evident in the present. Casual, but then more experienced wine drinkers are beginning to see various varieties of wines in terms of numbers. The idea of investing in wine has become popular and wine prices have increased faster than the average price of items, putting numerous wines that are beyond the budget of the majority of wine drinkers. Since marketing was driven by scoring and sales have become driven by score, the process of making wine has begun to focus on scores. This last result has led to a shift in the process of wine production to make wines that are appealing to scores-givers, Robert Parker et. all.

There are many passionate attacks against these systems of scoring too. They typically originate from Europe as well as the classic wine-consuming countries from France in addition to England where appreciation for fine wine has always been a sign of intellectual rigor. In addition it is true that it is important to note that the English and French have not think of this concept. The European idea is to slow down and study exquisite wines slowly, and gradually becoming familiar with the different types of wines as your palate grows. There’s no “fast and easy” for these wines!

Hugh Johnson, an English wine writer, is an ardent critic of Robert Parker and his followers and his followers, asserting the claim that “scores are unimportant, difference is what’s important”. He says that wine scores make distinct wines appear interchangeable and eliminate the distinction between wines that are made in different locations using different grapes. He believes that. Johnson thinks wine scores ruin the wine’s most appealing feature as well as its diversity. They also create a sense of slavish homogeneity for producers who subscribe to the idea of scoring to make their wine more attractive to buyers.

Wine scores are believed to give consumers an easy and quick guide to quality relative to other wines as well as a precise system to evaluate the many wines from around the world. However, they are based on human tasters that aren’t as objective as numbers suggest. Any wine drinker will realize that it is a Pinot Noir (for instance) is different from an Rhone Valley Syrah. In the same way, an German Spatlase Riesling is not able to be compared with the California Chardonnay. However, in the case of both pairings the various wines may be rated an 88. Are they all alike? How does one Bordeaux red wine that scores a 90 cost you $44 for a bottle while Napa Cabernet that gets 90 is priced at $125? The scoring system is broken down as the people who provide the scores are influenced by their personal preferences. While the wines of Burgundy are among my most favored wines, and I’d rate many of them top marks however, others (consumers) might not enjoy Burgundy in any way and won’t recommend any Burgundy score higher than 75.

Therefore, even though wine scores may appear exact and objective, they’re actually subject to interpretation (dependent on the preferences of the judge) and ineffective. There is only one way to make use of scores is to identify the time that a certain reviewer with whom you are completely in agreement. It’s ridiculous to suggest that Robert Parker is wrong. He’s absolutely right according to his personal preferences. But, does his taste affect the price of wines for sale or at auction ? And, does his preferences influence the method winemakers create their wines?

I’m to Hugh Johnson, the real value of wine lies in its diversity and the delights that various styles erupt on my tongue and taste senses. My personal opinion is that wine’s best splendor is when it is paired with a delicious dinner, where every style can be a great match. I think the diversity of wine is something that should be celebrated and every numeral system, be it one that is 100 points or not, will reduce the perception of the variety of wines. That’s a problem.

If you buy wine magazines, make sure you read the content. Check out the opinions columns. Review the wine and look at what wines critics believe are the best. But, DO NOT LISTEN TO the scores. Avoid falling into the trap of thinking that the 90 point wine is superior than a wine with 85 points. When making a an informed decision about which wine to purchase, think about the possibility of a connection with wines that you’ve previously purchased and enjoyed. What grape varieties do you prefer? What regions do you enjoy? What producers do you enjoy? Don’t walk into the shop to proclaim “I want to see the wines that scored over 90 points.” There’s no reason to do that.