POINTS TAKEN: UNDERSTANDING THE WINE RATING SYSTEM
The family of Claudine Wines are thrilled to share some exciting news: Our 2014 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon received a 92-point rating through Wine Enthusiast! It is our first ever rating, and one we’re pretty thrilled to share! So what does it mean to be a 92-point wine? Let us pour another glass of celebratory bubbly and we’ll tell you!
On a Scale of 1-100
The 100 point rating scale was created by avid writer and wine enthusiast Robert Parker. It became popular in the 1980’s and continues to provide tons of beneficial information, like how certain vintages compare to years prior, tasting profiles and glimpses of the secrets within the bottle. These shelf talkers are very useful in retail stores when comparing deals and looking for unique wines you’ve never tried. That being said, even though the Wine Enthusiast point system is a useful guide - and one we are thrilled to be rated so highly by - the real judge of a great wine is your own palette and preference.
While considering the ratings, do keep the following things in mind:
Each critic has developed their own palette for wine; opinions will be different!
Doing research on the wine critic and understand the style of wine they like will provide useful information on their rating. For example, Robert Parker is known to enjoy wines with a high alcohol content with a bold, fruit forward profile. I enjoy the influence and style of Old World wines, so chances are, I may not enjoy something that Parker would rate 95+ and highly recommend.
Don’t let unrated wines go unnoticed!
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there are 36 billion bottles of wine produced each year. What a mouth-watering statistic! I know a few folks that refuse to purchase or drink anything that is unrated, they figure that unrated wines simply mean they are bad wines, which is not the case! I implore you to go beyond the rating scale - there are many incredible wines that you’ll fall in love with. Be bold and try something new!
Wines from different regions will taste different - despite similar/equal ratings!
A Pinot Noir from Burgundy will taste different than a Pinot coming from Sonoma - despite having equal ratings from the same critic. This stems from researching specific regions (there are many helpful books and apps for portable assistance) and knowing what you like.
As a winemaker...
I have my own thoughts regarding the tasting and ratings of the wines. When we submitted our Cabernet Sauvignon, I had so many questions! “How was the wine tasted?” “Did the Cabernet get the opportunity to breathe before the tasting?” “Did it show as well as possible?” I also wondered who tasted the wine, and what were their predispositions… but despite my many questions, I am very simply grateful that so many people continue to positively respond to our wines.
It’s always nice to see print reviews and tasting notes by the many talented folks of the industry. I strongly feel that the ratings solidify what we already know: that the quality and consistency conforms to the standard caliber of wine we at Claudine Wines are searching for.
See our 2014 Napa Cabernet in Wine Enthusiast! And continued thanks to the many supporters of Claudine Wines!