Do Wine Points Matter?
- Posted on
- By David Samples
Compelling Perspective on Wine Points
Do Wine Points Matter?
Q: Over the past few months we’ve noticed that wine scores are becoming more prominent on the Western Reserve Wines website. Why is that? And how important are wine scores really?
A: That’s an observant and fair question and there are many facets to the answer. First of all, it needs to be admitted that not every well-made, well-structured, delicious wine has scores. Several of our distributors go out of their way to discover hidden gems that fly under the radar of professional wine scorers. Therefore, it should never be assumed that a wine lacks substance for the sole reason it doesn’t have points.
Also, it should be acknowledged that some are skeptical of wine scores based on allegations and assumptions that wineries pay for points. An article posted on the website of Tim Atkin, Master of Wine, points to a very candid critique of publications involved in “pay to play” schemes. (Neather 2023)
So, even in light of the points noted above, consider the following reasons to include wine scores on the Western Reserve Wines website, tasting sheets, and newsletters.
1. Not every wine professional lacks integrity.
Personally, I refused to allow myself to disregard wine writers entirely because of the few bad apples who engage in “pay to play” schemes. Further, there are wine critics, such as Jancis Robinson, Hugh Johnson, Steven Spurrier, and Oz Clark, who adhere to “ethical guidelines and standards for the wine writing profession.” (Maclean 2020) Wine brings with it a passion that always will override the few shady characters in the industry.
2. Many Western Reserve Wines consumers do consider points when buying wine.
Whether it be Wine Spectator, Decanter, Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling, Robert Parker, Burghound, etc., many consumers have their own trusted sources to help them choose their wines. And our intent is to aid the process by noting reviews on our website and on store shelves.
3. Wine reviews can tell consumers a lot about particular wines.
Although it was noted above that many good to excellent wines don’t have points, a wine with scores from multiple sources can alert consumers to a wine, producer, or region that had previously been unknown to them. And whether it helps to refine their own wine tasting skills or to help determine how long a wine can age, professional wine scorers and wine magazines can be useful resources to answer complicated wine questions.
In conclusion, guests who find them useful will continue to find scores posted on the Western Reserve Wines website and on shelf tags. And, again, there’s an equal amount of good wines that don’t have scores or perhaps have points that simply haven’t been noted. At the end of the day, we always look forward to sharing a bottle of our favorite unrated wine with our guests who pop in on Friday afternoon.
References
Neather, Andy. (2023, November 15).
Who Pays the Wine Critic?
MacLean, Natalie. (2020, January 1).
Wine Reviews, Scores and Tasting Notes.