Scoring helps you to focus on each attribute of the wine individually. By practicing scoring you will be better able to describe characteristics you find attractive in a wine and this will help you communicate when selecting wines from a retailer or restaurant. When reading scores in magazines I think the tasting notes are much more significant that the number assigned. Every one's palate is unique so don't let the critics tell you what you should like or reject. This is the general scoring criterion we came up with for the WSG tastings, it is basically a compilation of several other scoring systems.
When Scoring, ½ points are permissible if wavering between definitions. It is difficult being objective when enjoying wine is as emotional as it is physiological. Try and be objective and rate each category individually without letting a specific attribute color the rest of your scoring.
Clarity & Appearance (1 point)
Brilliant, star bright, crystal, leggy=1
Translucent, slightly dull, pearling=.5
Cloudy, hazy, sediment, watery=0
Color (1 point)
Typical for type and age, vivid=1
Nearly correct, attractive, lively=0.5
Off, colorless=0
Aroma & Bouquet (4 points)
Varietal, characteristic, complex, flowery=4
Fruity, pronounced, developed=3
Clean, pleasant, scented, delicate=2
Fleeting, underdeveloped, simple, elusive=1
Defective, off, sulferous, vinegary=0
Total Acidity (2 points)
Balanced, appropriate=2
Slightly low or high, tart=1
Flabby, insipid, raw, harsh, vinegary=0
Sweetness (1 point)
Appropriate and balanced=1
Sweet edged, slightly lacking=. 5
Cloying, syrupy, lacking=0
Body & Texture (3 points)
Appropriate, firm, velvety, silky, sound=3
Nearly correct, smooth, even=2
Slightly thin or heavy=1
Clumsy, thin, empty, coarse, rough=0
Flavor & Taste (4 points)
Complex, mature, varietal, luscious=4
Fruity, robust, multilayered=3
Agreeable, clean, simple=2
Lacking, green=1
Chemical, stemmy, hollow=0
Finish (2 points)
Appropriate for age, enticing, lasting=2
Nearly correct, tappering=1
Harsh, withered, absent, astringent, hot=0
Overall Quality (2 points)
Noble, elegant, inspiring, grand=2
Charming, graceful, skillfully made=1.5
No exceptional features, characteristic=1
Flawed=0
Wines scoring 18 to 20 I consider outstanding, memorable and worth seeking out for the cellar, I would say one in 20 wines earns this rating in our club (we tend to be a bit harsh). A 14 to 17 point wine is well crafted and without major flaws, I'd buy these again if the price is reasonable. a wine scoring 9 to 13 is acceptable but in some way flawed, I wouldn't get cranky drinking it but would not purchase again. Anything 8 and below is flawed and generally unpleasant in some manner, these wines can and do make me irritable and whoever produces and releases them is without integrity....OK, that may be a little brutal but still holds some truth.
When Scoring, ½ points are permissible if wavering between definitions. It is difficult being objective when enjoying wine is as emotional as it is physiological. Try and be objective and rate each category individually without letting a specific attribute color the rest of your scoring.
Clarity & Appearance (1 point)
Brilliant, star bright, crystal, leggy=1
Translucent, slightly dull, pearling=.5
Cloudy, hazy, sediment, watery=0
Color (1 point)
Typical for type and age, vivid=1
Nearly correct, attractive, lively=0.5
Off, colorless=0
Aroma & Bouquet (4 points)
Varietal, characteristic, complex, flowery=4
Fruity, pronounced, developed=3
Clean, pleasant, scented, delicate=2
Fleeting, underdeveloped, simple, elusive=1
Defective, off, sulferous, vinegary=0
Total Acidity (2 points)
Balanced, appropriate=2
Slightly low or high, tart=1
Flabby, insipid, raw, harsh, vinegary=0
Sweetness (1 point)
Appropriate and balanced=1
Sweet edged, slightly lacking=. 5
Cloying, syrupy, lacking=0
Body & Texture (3 points)
Appropriate, firm, velvety, silky, sound=3
Nearly correct, smooth, even=2
Slightly thin or heavy=1
Clumsy, thin, empty, coarse, rough=0
Flavor & Taste (4 points)
Complex, mature, varietal, luscious=4
Fruity, robust, multilayered=3
Agreeable, clean, simple=2
Lacking, green=1
Chemical, stemmy, hollow=0
Finish (2 points)
Appropriate for age, enticing, lasting=2
Nearly correct, tappering=1
Harsh, withered, absent, astringent, hot=0
Overall Quality (2 points)
Noble, elegant, inspiring, grand=2
Charming, graceful, skillfully made=1.5
No exceptional features, characteristic=1
Flawed=0
Wines scoring 18 to 20 I consider outstanding, memorable and worth seeking out for the cellar, I would say one in 20 wines earns this rating in our club (we tend to be a bit harsh). A 14 to 17 point wine is well crafted and without major flaws, I'd buy these again if the price is reasonable. a wine scoring 9 to 13 is acceptable but in some way flawed, I wouldn't get cranky drinking it but would not purchase again. Anything 8 and below is flawed and generally unpleasant in some manner, these wines can and do make me irritable and whoever produces and releases them is without integrity....OK, that may be a little brutal but still holds some truth.
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