The Story Behind the Score

How I evaluate wine, and why I’m going to share my scores.

Throughout my years of wine writing, my philosophy has been consistent: approachable, relatable wine writing that is free of pretension or ego. That philosophy isn’t changing. What’s changing is that I’m adding another tool that helps readers understand my reviews.

The value of wine scores

For consumers, wine scores provide a quick benchmark.

For wineries, they’re an independent assessment.

For industry professionals, they make the scorer’s palate more transparent and comparable.

Of course, scores aren’t everything. They’re shorthand – a concise summary of an assessment, but never a substitute for thoughtful tasting notes. My reviews will always focus on the people, places, and stories behind the wine, with scores only adding to that – not replacing it.

How I ensure fair, balanced, and consistent reviews and scoring

Blind tasting is the gold standard, and I prioritize this method for the vast majority of tastings I do. I’m also under no obligation to only publish positive reviews – honesty and integrity are more important to me than favour or flattery. I deliberately score according to style, character, and execution before personal preference. Applying these standards consistently across all producers – and never inflating my scores – is how I maintain integrity. The same process applies regardless of what’s in the glass.

I use the 100-point scale when evaluating wines. The purpose of using a scoring system isn’t to make my reviews more definitive – it’s to make them more consistent. When readers understand the framework behind my evaluations, they’ll also understand what a score from me represents.

Why I use the 100-point scale

It’s the most widely used system worldwide. It’s not perfect, but I think it does the best job conveying a wine’s place within the context of style, character, and quality. Here’s how it breaks down:

80-84 points: Good quality wines, no flaws, simple styles.

85-89 points: These are enjoyable wines of very good quality. Most wine drinkers gravitate to wines in this category due to their value – you’ll find great bang for your buck.

90 points: The beginning of a higher tier. Outstanding quality, superior wines.

91-94 points: Increasingly sophisticated wines of exceptional balance and precision.

95+ points: Exceedingly rare, even for prolific tasters. I reserve these scores for the absolute very best, representing the extraordinary.

The process behind these scores

I start with the basics of balance, length, intensity, and complexity. Of course, balance comes in many forms, and many wines are not meant to be complex. That’s why I expand my evaluation further to include other aspects like typicity (how a wine compares to others of its kind), precision (are aromas and flavours easily identifiable, or muddled?), and last but not least, overall enjoyment. This is where my personal preference may play a minor role.

Notice that wines are not being assessed against each other – they’re being compared to the intended style, standing on their own merit. For example, an everyday Pinot Gris is not being judged like an iconic Meritage. And today’s fruity, approachable rosé doesn’t lose points because it lacks the complexity of yesterday’s Pinot Noir.

What you’ll see from me

Although scores are the result of a structured, disciplined process, the act of tasting itself remains subjective. That’s why you should expect to see some variation – a point or two perhaps – between other experts and critics. My reviews and scores reflect my assessment at the time of tasting. And since wines evolve and tasting conditions vary, reasonable people may disagree.

You’ll never have to pay to see my scores. Wherever they are, they will be free. Individual reviews, winery features, and wines highlighted in my main article series will have scores. Wines appearing as examples, casual mentions, or wines consumed for my own enjoyment will not.

The utility and practicality of wine scores continue to be debated. My hope is that you’ll see the framework behind the number, and recognize the score for what it is: another tool to help you discover and enjoy wine with confidence.

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