Reviewing Unfinished Wines

New score ranges provide more flexibility, accuracy

Thomas Matthews

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008

Wine Spectator primarily reviews finished wines—that is, wines that are bottled and ready for sale—in blind tastings in our offices around the world. These wines are scored on our 100-point scale.

However, in some cases, our editors evaluate wines before they are finished and bottled. For example, James Suckling is now reviewing hundreds of 2007 Bordeaux, which are still aging in barrel. In this case, we believe a broader score range is a more reliable indicator of the wine’s future potential.

Now, in order to give the tasters more flexibility and describe the wines more accurately, we are changing the score ranges we use for unfinished wines to rolling four-point spreads. For example, one wine may be scored 85-88, another 87-90, another 89-92. We believe this will better reflect the subtle differences between wines, and give our readers better information for their buying decisions.

To learn more about Wine Spectator's tasting procedures, tasting format and tasters, read About Our Tastings.

Currently on Wine Spectator Online:

Court Throws Out St.-Emilion Classification
Ruling negates 2006 reclassification of grand cru estates—says tasting process was biased
Collecting Q&A: Finding Auction Houses
Scientists Say Red Wine Chemical Helps Fight Ravages of Age
Resveratrol staves off age-related degeneration in mice, but the rodents didn't live longer
Brunello Cleared for U.S. Import
Italian government creates certification process to guarantee wines are 100 percent Sangiovese
Unfiltered: Prince Charles' Aston Martin Runs on Wine
Plus, the world's largest Champagne glass in Italy, tiger bone wine in China, vegetables on Mars and bubbly for a good cause in New York