Wine ratings? – Episode #178

February 7, 2007

Wines tasted in this episode:

Links mentioned in todays episode.

American Wine Blog Awards

Wine Ratings what do they mean and how does Gary stack his scores against these 90+ scored wines from the MAJOR press.

167 Responses

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February 8, 2007

PhilB
QOTD: Basket, clearly.

As far as scores go, come on people, scores ARE fun… It’s not a matter on buying according to the score, but to taste what you’re drinking, giving a score and then comparing… I love to say that Parker is wrong on such or such wine, that Suckling really had it right on this one… Actually, I like giving like an 89 to a wine that was scored 83 or lower, means nobody will chase it and there is more left for me! Anyways, I keep in my computer my tasting notes and copy next them the ones from WA or WS to compare them in the future… And giving your own ratings to wines allows you to follow their evolution or just to remember clearly the ones that you liked better… You may not remember how that Palmer 1995 was when you tasted it 4 years ago… A quick look at YOUR rating will keep you informed…
February 8, 2007

Mark
Favourite episode so far …. wine kit for me!

Cheers

Mark
February 8, 2007

wey
I want a GaryVWLTV spitting thing
February 8, 2007

thomas korent
QOTD: basket, no doubt.
February 8, 2007

Ryan P
QOTD: Basket for me. I’m a wine newbie so I’d rather try a new kind than try to make some on my own.

Gary I want to thank you for raising my interest in wines dramatically. The enthusiasm, humor, and wild analogies you use make your show an instant favorite of mine. Keep up the good work man, cheers!
February 8, 2007

LPapi
Question of the Day: Wow, so it looks like the the basket is the winner… HOWEVER, I sustain that you can get wine anywhere. I would appreciate the wine making kit. This way -for the many people like myself that dont have the oportunity to be a part of the wine making process – you can learn a little more by expanding your horizons in that direction, in turn becoming a more educated and perhaps cultured individual.
February 8, 2007

Corrado
QOTD first: I’d probably take the kit. I make my own beer and my folks make wine (from kits) that’s pretty decent for the daily drinking category.

Funny this episode should come out after I spammed an email to Gary last night looking for a show on Wine Ratings. I would argue that, like grades in school, ratings are important, but the problem is that there’s no real standard or rubric for scoring a wine. I’ve seen a published breakdown of how Parker says he scores wine and I try to follow that to be more objective than just giving it a yea or nea.

I’d still like to know what our host uses as HIS criteria for scoring wines. Someone should make “Vaynerchuk — the Home Game” where a video clip of Gary nosing, then tasting the wine is played, but the video is stopped before he speaks after spitting. The goal is to score the wine based on Gary’s facial expressions alone. Usually I’m within 1-2 pts.

While I do agree that buying wine because someone SAYS it’s good (or not buying it because someone says it’s bad) isn’t always wise, but for those of us who are still relative novices, the alternative is to play Grocery Store roulette and grab random wines, something that is likely have even poorer results than seeking out 88+ point wines in the under $15 range. That said, I won’t buy a 93pt Chardonnay for $11 because I know I can pick up a tried & true Brancott Sauvignon Blanc for the same price that I like.
February 8, 2007

SteviefreakinD
Definatly wine basket. Who would drink wine made in Brooklyn?
February 8, 2007

Large Format Fever
I would take either the “Basket” and/or the making kit. If pushed to choose, I would have to put my confidence in another wine maker, as I do not know what the H-E-double_hockey_sticks is going on. I just like to drink it…ALOT. Thanks for another great one…. CB
February 8, 2007

LouieNY
I really need to start trying more whites, perhaps a few of these to start with….Thanks for the tastings Gary
February 8, 2007

Nico
cool episode, like the theme. Also, please introduce us to more cheese in the episodes. Currently I’m seeking out some robiola from the Brunello episode a few weeks ago.

QOTD: winemaking kit for me, it is one of my dreams to be able to artfully put my hand in the making of this life-nectar!

-Nico
February 8, 2007

Dmjperc
Great Episode…Please..PLEASE keep ‘em coming.

QOTD: I’ve never gotten a basket… so basket.
February 8, 2007

boingoal
How about a wine making kit basket.
February 8, 2007

PJ
Gary, good show again but your analogy is wrong. If I go to restaurant I wouldn’t ask the waiter for a dinner recommendation unless there were 1,000 meals named ‘Surf-n-Turf’ (or Shiraz or Grenache). With so many meals named the same, you have to rely on someone to tell you who is the better chef ( or winery). I use ratings as a guide – not an absolute. A 90 point wine should be better (regardless of scorer) than a wine that rates 75. Since price has so little to do with wines (unlike most industries) you have to base your decision on something. The names are usually the same (Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, etc.) so you only have two things to go on: The way the bottle looks or someone’s recommendation. Given that I am dishing out 5-10 McDonald value meals just for the wine, I’ll rely on the recommendation.

Oh and got my first decent bottle of wine as a screw cap. Not happy about it though I know you and everyone else touts it as a good thing (like NCAA Football playoffs). I don’t like it though. I prefer the custom and romance of the cork. It’s just more civilized.
February 7, 2007

RobinRedBest in Boise, ID
Question of the year…why do all the East Coast critics use a 100 point score? Is it Ivy League?
The Brits and West Coasters use the UC Davis 20 point scale and have for over 40 years. Can you function on a 20 point scale?
If scholastically speaking, 100 = A+ = 20, 95 = A = 19, 90 = A-/B+ = 18, 85 = B = 17,
80 = B-/C+ = 16, 75 = C = 15 And 70 = C-/D+ [anything lower is undrinkable - but you could marinate with it or add it to your vinegar mother] Great Topic – I’d rather taste and choose according to my preferences…but I have been turned on to many wines I have not yet had the opportunity to taste by various wine critics – generally select from the wine critics over the winery marketing notes.
QOTD – I’d prefer the winemaking kit. Adventuresome type of a gal. Spouse, Bob, would prefer the basket. Send one of each.
We both like different kinds of surprises
February 7, 2007

cpd
Good episode.

Wine basket…I’m quite lazy, you know. Vote casted, by the way.
February 7, 2007

EJ
I often use the scores to point me to the tasting notes. If a wine didn’t score too well, i most likely won’t read the tasting notes. in comparing several bottles deciding what to purchase, i’ve many times chosen lesser scoring wines due to the tasting notes that suites me.

QOD- basket
February 7, 2007

manual
wine kit! but with a basket that i can fill to give away to friends. great episode. i appreciate your constant reminder that it’s up to to the individual to form and protect their own palatte. hey everybody, drink more white zinfandel! save those nasty little brunellos for me.
February 7, 2007

Dave-from-Katonah
Great show, Gary Vay-Ner-CHUK!! Great energy. Great mood. You’re on a roll.
I love it when you throw some caution to the wind and make us think about ratings. Even better was that episode on divergent scores btwn WS and WA/RP. I gotta go and seek out some new whites…
QOTD – wineBASKET over kit 24/7/365!! 100% of the time.
PS You’ve got my vote!
February 7, 2007

DebbieL
QOTD: Basket. I’m a great cook, but can’t see making my own wine.
February 7, 2007

E
Basket. Preferably full of weird Italian grapes I’ve never heard of.

I’m interested in tasting notes and I don’t mind point chasing–it doesn’t usually involve the kinds of wine I’m interested in, so let ‘em have their fun. Just so long as Rhone prices don’t go the way of Bordeaux …

But I must confess, I’ve chased points before. I ran across something interesting in an old Spectator several years ago, and was fortunate enough to find (locally!) some Chateau de Lascaux. It kicked all kinds of ass and turned me on to the Languedoc. So that worked out all right.
February 7, 2007

Susan
Gary-
QOD:
Basket
Basket
Tisket a Tasket!
I want a wine Basket!!!
February 7, 2007

Suzanne
Another cool episode. I try to not think about the ratings; I’m way too impressionable.
QOTD: I’d have to say the wine basket.
February 7, 2007

Canuckchuk
I’d give your show today an 86. Funny nose and not much of a finish.

When are you reviewing BC wines? There is life north of Washington state.

-Canuckchuk
February 7, 2007

ChrisR
Fun ep and rant. Although while I trust my own palate, I don’t know if a wine is good before I taste it. And if I’m going to make an expensive purchase, wine ratings are a must. That’s why we turn to people we trust like Parker and Gary V!

QOD: Definitely Wine basket!