Wine and Spirit Reviews

I’m not going to waste your time writing about inferior wines, because I’m not going to waste my time drinking them – some sacrifices are just too great to make for this site. I rate my wines with 1 to 5 bottles. An additional half bottle means the wine leans towards the higher end of the rating or more likely, that I couldn’t finish the last bottle. I don’t rate wines on a sliding scale based on cost, instead I will make a notation if I find a wine to be a good value.

1 BOTTLE is awarded to wines that are merely “drinkable” to “good.” These are passable wines without any fatal flaws. This is equivalent to 80-83 points on the more common 100 point scale.

2 BOTTLES are awarded to wines that are “good” to “very good.” These range from straightforward wines without any serious flaws, to wines with some complexity plus some pleasing element(s) of aroma, flavor or texture.  This is equivalent to 84-87 points on the 100 point scale.

3 BOTTLES are awarded to wines that are “very good” to “outstanding.”  These are wines without obvious flaws that possess some finesse, complexity and depth. These are above average wines that rise above the competition and are worth seeking out. This is equivalent to 88-91 points on the 100 point scale.

4 BOTTLES are awarded to wines of exceptional quality that reveal superb depth and complexity, while displaying no flaws. The aromas, flavors, and texture combine in harmonious coexistence, creating a wine with outstanding balance (or at least the promise of outstanding balance with some bottle age). Seek out  these wines! This is equivalent to 92-95 points on the 100 point scale.

5 BOTTLES are awarded to wines that amaze me. These are profound wines that changed my life, although I sometimes wake up and don’t remember changing my clothes, let alone my life. This is equivalent to 96-100 points on the 100 point scale.