Robert Parker’s scoring system goes from 50 to 100 points. A wine is rated like this: From 96 to 100 points, astonishing. With real depth and complexity representing all that’s typical in a great wine. This calibre of wine is worth every effort to seek it out, buy and drink it. Those attaining a score of 100: “one tenth of one percent of the wines I taste” (a Robert Parker saying). E.g. Guigal’s 1999 Côte-Roties (Landonne, Mouline, Turque) or Pétrus 2000. 90 to 95 points, excellent. A wine that stands out with exceptional complex characters. 80 to 89 points, between “just above average” and “very good.” It shows different levels of elegance, flavour and character without noticeable faults. 70 to 79 points, average, harmless. Not a lot to say. Competently made. 60 to 69, below par. This wine is definitely lacking: too much acidity or tannin, lacks flavour, faulty... 50 to 59, not acceptable. So scoring wine starts at 50 points. The colour and appearance are rated out of 5 points. Aroma and bouquet, out of 15. Taste, length... out of 20 points. Overall quality level, ageing potential can count for another 10 points.
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