The Cork Report Adopts Industry Standard 110-Point Rating System
Joins Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, VinePair, Decanter, and Beverage Tasting Institute (Among Others) in Inflating Wine Ratings for Mutual Benefit
Over my 20 years writing about and ratings wines, I’ve used a small handful of rating systems, eventually settling on the 100-point system popularized by Robert Parker and many others, which I’ve used for several years now.
Today, I’d like to announce that I’m adopting a 110-point scale — the same 110-point scale that I assume most other wine reviewers have been using for the past five-to-ten years.
When I started reviewing wines, there was an unspoken (but real) ratings cap on New York and other Eastern regions. They were lucky to break the 90-point barrier in magazines like Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast then because reviewers knew where the wines were from (their tasting processes not truly being blind and all) and didn’t think emerging regions had “earned” 90+ ratings, which was fair. We all know that all of the good American wine comes from California, Washington, and Oregon.
Things sure have changed, however. We now live in a world where a bourbon barrel-aged Finger Lakes cabernet sauvignon from a mediocre (at best) vintage is rated a 94 by the Beverage Tasting Institute (BTI), and flawed, just-not-very good wines regularly find someone willing to give them mid-90s scores.
It’s easy to understand why the wine rating arms race is happening. If you score a wine high enough, the winery will use that score to market that wine, sharing your content and elevating your publication’s profile. For BTI, which charges for reviews, it’s even more apparent why higher scores are better for business. Why is a winery going to pay to be told their wine isn’t good? They aren’t. BTI’s business model depends on high scores.
The winery sells more wine. You get more clicks (or money). Who cares if sour rot-riddled rieslings or Brett-infected oak-bomb reds get scores in the 90s? We’re selling more wine! We’re selling more reviews and getting more clicks.
Integrity be damned! Everyone wins.
Except me, the idiot who is still using the antiquated 100-point scale!
I’m entering my East Coast Cheerleader era. I’ve earned a reputation as a tough reviewer — with some winery owners and winemakers going so far as to tell me they aren’t going to send me wine anymore because my ratings are “so much lower” than other places.
That hurts my feelings. It makes me sad. I cry often.
By adopting the same 110-point system that other places use, I can get back into everyone’s good graces. Maybe I’ll even win a Unity Award from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
It’s simple math, really.
By adding 10% more potential points, an almost-undrinkable wine that I may have scored an 80 now gets an 88! People will want to buy it! Who cares if they are disappointed and hate it?
An 85 can now round up to a 94! That’s higher than any rating I’ve ever given for what I previously considered a pretty average wine. But I guess it’s actually a great wine, now? What a moron I’ve been!
A 93, my highest rating to date, will now get a 102! Imagine being able to buy a wine that is better than perfect. What a world!
This is going to make a lot of winemakers very happy with me — and that’s what matters: being liked so that I’m still treated well when I visit wineries. That comped glass of wine (and maybe a cheese plate!) will taste way better than maintaining my integrity ever has. Integrity is bitter and hollow on the mid-palate.
It’s silly ever to offer any real critique or feedback or dare suggest that anyone can improve and get better. Everyone is already making great wine, no matter the grape, vineyard site, vintage, techniques, or talent! I now see the error of my ways!
Maybe next year, I’ll make a move to get ahead in the ratings race. I mean, a 150-point scale doesn’t seem crazy, does it?
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😊love it - price inflation needs points inflation . Even more amusing is when you pour a 100 point wine into a low priced label bottle .. et voilà 86 points !
Lenn:
I really enjoyed this (hopefully) satirical post. :)