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Rating System.
Our philosophy. The redwinebuzz.com rating system addresses the merits of the wine with respect to the component grapes. This has also been called "distinct varietal character" and "typicity". Beyond that, our rating system emphasizes balance and complexity before absolute power of extraction. It should be noted that complexity is not the same as "a lot of different things going on". Aromatic, flavor and texture components should be in harmony and maintain a tempo from start to finish. A wine that delivers much promise aromatically, but is hollow, thin, hot or has a truncated or harsh finish lacks this composure and rhythm. Food-friendliness (which requires well-proportioned acidity), composed alcohol and potential longevity, where applicable, are also valued. Our numerical ratings do not reflect any notion of one wine being better than any other. They do not purport to indicate any notion of quality nor do they reflect how much pleasure the wine brings the taster (in our case, Arthur). The latter is best conveyed in the description of the wine. While consideration is given to the particular wine style's character around the globe, the subject wine is ultimately assessed in the context of its AVA of origin. We firmly believe in the role of terroir in a wine's character and identity and value wines which strive to showcase the unique terroir of their AVA. Furthermore, we believe that the central coast wine growing regions are quite capable of producing world-class wines that meet these criteria. It is our belief in that potential that contributes to our final assessment of the wine's quality. We are now moving away from the 100 point rating scale. We are going to continue assigning points to the wine components assessed. There are still those who prefer the 100-point scoring system. Summing points given to a wine in all the categories we assess and adding them to 50 (or to 45 when Food Friendliness is rated - starting in 2008), will give a 'score' based on a 100-point scale until the new version of the site is launched. In general, higher quality wines will receive higher scores on a 100-point scale. However, no numerical system is perfect and very different wines may receive very similar scores on the 100 point scale. Hence, we are de-emphasizing the 100-point system and urge our readers to understand the rating system and its components. Focusing on the description of each wine and the scores for the individual categories will serve as a much more accurate guide to selecting a wine to best suit one's preferences. Again, we will stop using the 100 point scale once we launch the new version of the website.
Read more detail about our reviewing philosophy here. Our methodology is outlined here. Each review and score represents our findings and opinions but does not constitute a guarantee of quality or value. Please, review our Tasting Methodology.
What we rate/score: Each wine is scored on the following characteristics:
Only the last of these is intended to be an indication of Arthur's opinion of the wine's quality and his inclination to recommend a wine to another person. (see below).
But first, these words: In order to be consistent and as descriptive as possible, we use specific terms to indicate intensity of smell and flavor. These intensities are based upon Arthur's sensory threshold. Not everyone has the same sensitivity but applying these terms and standards consistently allows us to serve as a reliable meter of intensity. The reader familiar with our reviews and the wines they describe will be able to use these descriptions as their barometer. In decreasing order they are:
We also use the terms 'note' and 'hint' for even more subtle smells or flavors. In general, these are very subtle and less persistent or less clearly identifiable:
Color and appearance are visual cues of the wine’s quality and character. Some argue that it has nothing to do with enjoyment of a wine. While that may be true, it does provide clues about the wine's quality. Legs or tears do not aid in assessing a wine. See our section on wine myths. The most important things to look for are color and clarity. Saturation or depth of color is not necessarily related to quality. We look for clarity and vibrancy of color. The younger the wine, the more vibrant its color. Inkiness, on the other hand, does not guarantee a high quality wine, as some excellent wines may be lightly colored. Sparkling wines are generally paler than dry table wines, so the more important feature in these wines are the perlage (bubbles) and mousse (the frothy foam that forms on the surface when the wine is poured into a glass as well as the effervescent sensation in the mouth). Some red wines are unfiltered and will not have much clarity- especially early in their life. Winemakers choose not to filter their wines to preserve flavor intensity and possibly allow for greater longevity. When evaluating an unfiltered wine, clarity is best left out of the equation. However, a murky white wine is usually flawed. It is important to know that if a wine is over-chilled it may be come cloudy. This is not a flaw. It most likely indicates that the wine was not cold-stabilized during production. The cloudiness is due to the formation of harmless tartrate crystals in the wine. Allowing the wine to warm up on its own may alleviate this. Bubbles should only be present in wines intended to be sparkling. In any other circumstance, they indicate a flaw and result in a lower score. In the final analysis, it is best to just observe the color and clarity of a wine. The most common indicator of age (and flawed production) in both white and red wines is browning. As a wine ages, the compounds responsible for color in wine oxidize and fall out of solution, forming a sediment in the bottle. The latter is a more prominent contributor to color change in red wines. The redwinebuzz.com rating system first addresses the subjective description of the color followed by a 5-point scale addressing color quality:
The Nose refers to the smell of the wine. This is composed of the aromas attributable to the fruit used to make the wine, aromas which are typical hallmarks of a blend style. The latter are developed during aging prior to bottling and finally a synergy that comes about with bottle aging. Traditionally, these have been separated into Aroma (typically the scents originating from the fruit) and Bouquet (typically secondary scents which develop during aging and may reflect the growing region). In the context of this rating system “Aroma” means ‘smell’ or ‘scent’. We first address the the identifiable aromas. We to seek out aromas expected for the type of wine being tasted. The score, then, reflects typicity and complexity. An alternate way of assigning a score is based on the number of identifiable aromas. Not all grapes are capable of producing wines with this degree of complexity, and a linear relationship between the number or aromas and a score are not always possible. Still, it is not enough to tally up the identifiable aromas. Harmony is important. Note is made of all unusual or unexpected aromas, if they change over the course of the tasting and if decanting is needed. Unexpected but pleasing aromas are rewarded. Aromas indicative of inadequate or excessive ripeness (to a flaw) or flaws in production result in a lowered score. This is followed by a 5 point scale which reflects complexity, taking into consideration intensity, expressed in the terminology outlined above:
The Palate refers to the flavors found in the wine. The fact is that humans can only taste five things: bitter, salty, sour, sweet and umami (a savory, meaty character). All other sensations are the result of aromatic compounds making their way up the back of the throat and up to the nose (as vapors). (This is easily demonstrated by pinching the nose or inhaling through the nose while swishing wine in the mouth.) It may seem, then, that evaluating flavors in a wine is pointless. However, our mouths contain proteins and enzymes which begin the process of digestion. These substances, then, by their interaction with the wine, may alter its character. Thus, assessing the 'flavors' in a wine is valid pursuit. These flavors include those originating from the fruit, typical hallmarks flavors of a blend style, which may include secondary flavors such as spice as well as flavors developed during aging prior to bottling and finally the evolution of flavors that comes about with bottle aging. Wine is a complex chemical system. With age, fruit flavors may lose expression and other flavors originating from the fruit, the place the fruit was grown, aging prior to bottling and the chemical interactions which take place within the wine over time come to predominate. We address the identifiable flavors. This includes flavors expected of the wine being tasted. Region and even vineyard of origin are also considered when possible. It is not enough to tally up the identifiable flavors. Note is made of all unusual or unexpected flavors, if they change over the course of the tasting and if decanting is needed. Unexpected but pleasing flavors are rewarded. Flavors indicative of inadequate or excessive ripeness (to a flaw) or flaws in production result in a lowered score. Note is made of all unusual or unexpected flavors, if they change over the course of the tasting and if decanting is needed. Unexpected but pleasing flavors are rewarded. This is followed by a 5 point scale which reflects complexity, taking into consideration intensity, expressed in the terminology outlined above:
The Body, Texture and Mouthfeel are three sensory qualities of wine which do not lend themselves to numerical rating. More so than color, it is best to make note of them qualitatively. They are integral to the wine's structure - the way the flavors, acidity, tannins or minerality come together in the totality of the wine. In that respect, they are addressed, numerically, in the Tannins/Minerality, Acids and Alcohol categories. Characteristics indicative of inadequate or excessive ripeness or flaws in production contribute to a lowered score in the "Overall Quality" category. The Body refers to the feeling of weight or fullness in the mouth. In that, it is different from ‘texture’ or ‘mouthfeel’ and is typically qualified as ‘light bodied’, ‘medium bodied’ and ‘full bodied’. These may be qualified further as 'upper medium bodied' or 'light to medium bodied'. Wines described as full bodied are often characterized by high amounts of flavor or extract, tannins and alcohol. Texture is the tactile sensation of the wine on the tongue and against the insides of the cheeks. Some common terms we use to describe texture are: “chalky”, “coarse”, “dusty", “grainy”, “gravelly”, “gritty”, “silky”, “smooth”, “velvety” etc. We have not yet defined any clear rules or nomenclature for this. The following sections point out that much of this terminology can be related to the texture of the tannins. Mouthfeel is a more general sensation of the wine in the mouth and does not address texture. Some common words we use to describe mouthfeel are: “angular”, “ashy”, “astringent”, “austere”, “creamy”, “chewy”, “dry”, “fat”, “flabby”, “flinty”, “grippy”, “harsh”, “hollow”, “hollow”, “hot”, “juicy”, “lean”, “lush”, “opulent”, “puckery”, “plush”, “sweet”, “tannic”, “taut” and “unctuous” but, again, there are no specific rules. The Finish refers to the aftertaste, qualitatively, as well as to the duration of that aftertaste after the wine is swallowed. This aspect of a wine is a function of its body, extraction and acidity - to name a few. Generally speaking a complex wine will have a more interesting and lingering after taste. The redwinebuzz.com rating system first addresses the identifiable flavors in the aftertaste as well as the duration of those flavors. Attention is paid to how these flavors relate to the Palate and Nose. Are they in line with or complimentary to the Nose and Palate? Note is made of all unusual or unexpected characteristics and if they change over the course of the tasting. Unexpected but pleasing aromas and flavors are rewarded. This is followed by a 5 point scale which reflects complexity, duration and harmony:
Tannins originate from the skins of the fruit, the stems and, to a much lesser extent, oak of the barrels. They impart a ‘puckery’, astringent or sometimes bitter sensation to the wine. They also contribute to the structure and body of the wine. With time, they settle or soften. This is thought to be the result of polymerization, precipitation and some other chemical alterations tannins undergo in the bottle. A good wine has a balance of tannins to the flavors in the wine. It also displays a pleasing texture. We first address the description of the sensation the tannins produce when the wine is in the mouth. We use common foods to give an reference of the astringency (different from 'bitter') such as: “tea-like”, “fresh walnuts”, “unripe persimmons”, and we also use qualifiers such as: “arabesque”, “brawny”, “bitter”, “coarse, “demure”, “downy”, “dusty”, “filigree”, “fine”, “firm”, “gravely”, “gritty”, “robust”, “silky”, “smooth”, “taut”, “velvety” and others. A distinction “astringent” and “bitter” is necessary. Astringent is a dry, puckery tactile sensation felt in the mouth, while bitter is a flavor and is sensed at the back of the tongue. Bitterness is one of the elements which can define the character of tannins, particularly as "hard", "harsh" or "rough". This final assessment is addressed in the context of describing texture and mouthfeel of the wine (above). White wines have minimal tannins because they have little contact with the skins during fermentation. Some white wines have a Mineral or Astringent quality. In the case of white wine, then, we look at these characteristics. We are working on defining consistent terminology for this characteristic. The 5 point scale describes the level (or degree) of astringency or minerality relative to the entire composition of the wine, with emphasis placed on balance but respecting the grape variety(ies) and terroir.
Acids impart a sour, tart or tangy sensation to the wine. They are a desirable element of the wine's structure and, in the right proportions, preserve the freshness of the fruit flavors as the wine ages. The 5 point scale describes the level (or degree) of this sensation relative to the entire composition of the wine, with emphasis placed on balance but respecting the grape variety(ies) and terroir. For example, Albariñio is a very acidic (or sour tasting) wine and one expects its best examples to carry this trait. We are working on defining consistent terminology for this characteristic.
Wine is an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol contributes to the wine’s body. However, part of the art is making a wine which does not have excessive levels of alcohol which overpower the other elements of the wine or cause an unpleasant burning sensation. The 5 point scale describes the intensity of this sensation and an appraisal of how proportioned to the rest of the wine's elements it is:
Aging potential. While very few people are collectors and most want to enjoy their wine shortly after purchase, at redwinebuzz.com we feel it is most fair to assign increasing scores to wines with increasing potential to age. This score reflects our opinion regarding the wine’s potential to age and improve with time - assuming ideal storage conditions. Read more about estimating a wine's longevity here.
Food friendliness. Pairing food and wine can be a challenge. Certainly, many wines made today are cocktail-like, "stand-up" or "walk-around" wines. There is a broad range of rules and recommendations for pairing a dish with a wine. Of course, there are also different ways to approach wine and food pairing depending on personal preference. We believe that wines made with restraint are the best food pairings. Ultimately, one should consider what kind of culinary or food and wine experience is optimal. In our opinion, the interaction between food and wine can be placed into several categories with increasing degree of synergy between food and wine being rated higher:
In this area of wine assessment, a wine can receive a "0" (zero) score. This is when the interaction between food and wine is unpleasant and there is a harsh and striking discord and an unpleasant contrast or mismatch between the food and wine. Overall quality. This part of our evaluation assesses the wine as a whole and strives to convey some general idea of quality based on the previously addressed characteristics. It looks for integration and overall presentation of the wine, giving consideration to its origin – the place and the year it was grown. This part of the evaluation process asks: "Is this wine well made?". "How does it fare against other wines from this region, year or vineyard?". It also weighs the wine against the winemaker's stylistic inclinations in making the wine. That goes beyond a general wine making philosophy and addresses spontaneous inspirations, taking advantage of an opportunity as well as uncontrollable factors such as unusual growth season or other climatic variations and departure from normal in vineyard yield volume or fruit quality. Value is also considered: Is the price appropriate for the quality of the wine? Characteristics indicative of inadequate or excessive ripeness or flaws in production result in a lowered quality score.
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