Wine Spectator

Each wine region is the sole jurisdiction of one editor who has developed an expertise in that region's offerings. Other editors can offer opinions, but the final say comes from the region's primary editor.

All tastings are conducted "blind". Tasters are told the type of wine (varietal or region) and vintage. Flawed wines or wines that score very highly are re-tasted. European wines are sometimes tasted in the districts that yield them, where fresher, perfectly stored examples will be readily available. Wine ratings are based on how good a wine will be when it reaches its peak, regardless of how soon that will be. If barrel samples are being rated rather than finished wines, that is revealed.

Wine Spectator's 100-Point Scale:

• 95-100 – Classic; a great wine
• 90-94 – Outstanding; superior character and style
• 80-89 – Good to very good; wine with special qualities
• 70-79 – Average; drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
• 60-69 – Below average; drinkable but not recommended
• 50-59 – Poor; undrinkable, not recommended

The Wine Advocate

Robert Parker is a renowned wine critic and publisher of The Wine Advocate. Over the past few years, Parker has brought on other reviewers to join the publication. Note that an RP next to a wine means that it was rated by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, not necessarily Robert Parker himself.

Tastings are conducted in peer group, single-blind conditions, which means the same types of wines are tasted against each other and the wineries' names are not revealed, so niether price nor the reputation of the winery influences the rating in any way. If tasted several times, the scores represent a cumulative average. Overall, the score assigned to a specific wine reflects the quality of the wine at its best. Parker encourages readers to rely on the score with the written notes rather than the score alone.

The Wine Advocate's 100-Point Scale:

• 96-100 – Extraordinary; a classic wine of its variety
• 90-95 – Outstanding; exceptional complexity and character
• 80-89 – Barely above average to very good; wine with various degrees of flavor
• 70-79 – Average; little distinction beyond being soundly made
• 60-69 – Below average; drinkable, but containing noticeable deficiencies
• 50-59 – Poor; unacceptable, not recommended

Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast wine ratings are based on tastings by the magazine's editors and other qualified tasting panelists, either individually or in a group setting. Tastings are conducted blind or in accordance with accepted industry practices. Price is not a factor in assigning scores to wines. Only wines scoring 80 points or higher are published. When possible, wines considered flawed or uncustomary are re-tasted.

Wine Enthusiast Scores:

• 95-100 – Superb. One of the greats.
• 90-94 – Excellent. Extremely well made and highly recommended.
• 85-89 – Very good. May offer outstanding value if the price is right.
• 80-84 – Good. Solid wine, suitable for everyday consumption.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Wines are scored relative to their peer group based on their expected quality during their period of peak drinkability. A "+" after a score denotes a wine that is likely to merit a higher rating in the future. All wines rated 90 or better are highly recommended additions to your cellar (or, where indicated, for drinking over the near term); wines rated at least 85 are recommended bottles that should provide pleasurable drinking. Precise scores are provided only for wines in bottle; ranges are offered for unfinished wines.

• 95-100 – Extraordinary
• 90-94 – Outstanding
• 85-89 – Very Good to Excellent
• 80-84 – Good
• 75-79 – Average
• 70-74 – Below Average
• <70 – Avoid

Stephen Tanzer is the primary taster and critic, Josh Raynolds also reviews wines for the International Wine Cellar.