How Vino-Rater Scores Wine
How Vino-Rater Scores Wine
How Vino-Rater Scores Wine. Our 100-point scale is designed to provide a clear and concise evaluation of a wine’s quality and character, helping you make informed decisions when selecting your next bottle. The reality of the 100 point scale is that most wines will not get a review in the retail world if it’s under 85. The 100 point scale is really a 50 point scale. They have their scoring metrics and add 50 points to it to get to 100. With all that being said our scoring system starts with the beginning of the Average wine rating of 80 and adds and subtracts key components due to what is experienced during the tasting.
Vino-Rater Scoring
Vino-Rater scores wine using the 100-point scale with a few differences.
100 Points: These flawless wines capture your heart and soul, offering a truly perfect and unforgettable experience.
95-99 Points: Memorable and world-class, these wines leave you in awe from the very first sip.
90-94 Points: Outstanding and enticing, these wines invite you to savor every glass.
85-89 Points: Excellent But…Wines that are good but missing something.
80-84 Points: Average: Average wines that leave room for improvement in today’s competitive market.
Our scoring system considers factors such as aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, age-worthiness, and quality to ensure a well-rounded evaluation of each wine. Keep in mind that personal preferences and individual experiences may influence how you interpret these scores. Cheers to discovering your next favorite wine!
*Scoring: We start at the score for an average wine (80 points) and add & subtract points based on the tasting experience.
Vino-Rater Scoring Worksheet
Wine:
APPEARANCE (Total Max Points 2)
- Clarity (0-1 points): This evaluates the wine’s transparency and absence of particulates, which can indicate cleanliness and precision in winemaking.
- Color (0-1 point): Color assessment can provide insights into the grape varietal, wine age, and winemaking practices like oak aging.
AROMA (Pick 1, Total Max Points 2)
- Complex (2 points): Rewarding complexity recognizes wines with multifaceted aromatic profiles, suggesting a sophisticated sensory experience.
- Developed (1 points): Acknowledges maturity in aroma, indicating well-aged wines that have evolved to reveal secondary or tertiary notes.
- Mildly Scented (.5 point): Useful for evaluating lighter, more subtle wines, ensuring they are also recognized for their quality even if not intensely aromatic.
BODY (Pick 1, Total Max Points 2)
- Smooth Appropriate to Varietal (2 points): Important for assessing whether the body of the wine matches what is typical for the grape varietal, which speaks to the authenticity and skill in winemaking.
- Slightly thin (1point): Helps identify wines that may lack the desired texture or mouthfeel but are still enjoyable.
TASTE/FLAVOR (Pick 1, Total Max Points 2)
- Complex (2 points): Highlights wines with a range of flavors that interact well, indicating quality and depth.
- Robust, Multi-Layered (1points): Rewards wines that offer bold flavors and a sense of depth, catering to those who prefer a more intense taste profile.
- Simple (.5 point): Recognizes straightforward, easy-drinking wines that are still pleasing.
- Something off (0 points): Important for identifying flaws that can detract from the enjoyment of the wine.
FINISH (Pick 1, Total Max Points 1)
- Lingers (1 points): A lingering finish is often a sign of a well-crafted wine, suggesting complexity and balance.
- Fades (.5 point): Useful for noting wines that are pleasant but perhaps not as memorable.
BALANCE (Total Max Points 2)
- Acidity Balanced (1 point): Essential for assessing whether the wine has the right level of acidity, contributing to its freshness and structure.
- Acidity Average (0 points): Neutral position for acceptable but not ideal acidity levels.
- Acidity Off Balanced (-1 point): Penalizes wines where acidity levels are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Bitterness Balanced (1 point): Indicates a favorable balance of bitterness, often important in red wines.
- Bitterness Average (0 points): Neutral assessment for acceptable levels of bitterness.
- Bitterness off Balanced (-1 point): Deducts points for excessive or unpleasant bitterness.
QUALITY (Pick 1, Total Max Points 2)
- Noble, Elegant (2 points): High marks for wines that demonstrate finesse and superior craftsmanship.
- Well-Made (1 points): Recognizes solid, technically correct wines.
- Average (.5 point): Useful for wines that meet basic expectations but do not stand out.
INTEGRITY AND STYLE (Total Max Points 3)
- Integration: (0-1 point) How well the wine’s components are integrated. High integration would receive the maximum points.
- Tannins: (0-1 point) Quality and appropriateness of tannins relative to the wine style and varietal.
- Typicity: (0-1 point) How representative the wine is of its varietal, region, and style.
INTENSITY AND ENJOYMENT (Total Max Points 2)
- Intensity: (0-1 point) Intensity of aromas and flavors, where higher intensity (when balanced) would score higher.
- Overall Enjoyment: (0-1 point) Overall enjoyment or drinkability, which can reflect the subjective pleasure derived from the wine.
AGE WORTHINESS (Pick 1, Total Max Points 1)
- 10+ years (1 points): Rewards wines with the potential for long-term aging, indicating structure and balance.
- 5-9 years (.5 point): Identifies wines that can improve or maintain quality over a moderate term.
- Drink now (0 points): For wines best consumed in their youth without potential for aging.
SWEETNESS (Relevant to Style, Total Max Points 1)
- Sweetness: (0-1 point) The level of sweetness is appropriate for the style of the wine.
*This system will be ever-evolving
How Vino-Rater Scores Wine for people who want to give their input
We use the 5-point scale or Star system to make it easy for you to review wines on our site too!
5 Stars: Memorable and world-class, these wines leave you in awe from the very first sip.
4 Stars: Outstanding and enticing, these wines invite you to savor every glass.
3 Stars: Excellent But…Wines that are good but missing something.
2 Stars: Average wines that leave room for improvement in today’s competitive market.
1 Star: Below Average, life’s too short
Tasting Notes
Overall Rating
MEMORABLE
95 – 100 Points: Memorable and world-class, these wines leave you in awe from the very first sip.
OUTSTANDING
90-94 Points: Outstanding and enticing, these wines invite you to savor every glass.
EXCELLENT BUT…
85-89 points: Wines that are good but missing something.
AVERAGE
80-84 points: Average wines that leave room for improvement in today’s competitive market.
BELOW AVERAGE
75-79: Life’s too short
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Hamilton Russell 2022 Chardonnay
Morlet 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
