Notes on Ratings - Keep It Simple

I thought it would be worthwhile to elaborate a bit on the approach I’m taking to rate wines here. The short summary is in the sidebar to the right. The 100 point scale is used very widely to rate wines. That’s all fine and everything, and I find it useful, but I don’t find it all that useful to keep my own notes using that scale. First, I don’t believe I could really verbalize the distinction between an 89 and a 91, for example, and more importantly there’s a well established source already for making these kinds of scores and I have no reason or intention to argue with that score.

My approach is quite simple but I find it effective. For the most part, it’s simply Good, Better, Best:

Good. I find the wine to be drinkable and since I’ve opened the bottle I’ll surely have seconds at some point. If I’m drinking by the glass though, I might have another glass, but it’s just as likely I’ll move on to something else when I get the chance.
Better. I really like this wine. I’ll definitely have another glass and furthermore, I’ll make a note of it and seek this out at the store. I’ll likely remember it enough to recommend it to friends.
Best. This wine is awesome. Not only will I seek it out again, if money’s no object, I’ll buy a case of it. I’ll emphatically recommend it to friends.
Dumped. I didn’t really feel like finishing it. If I’ve opened a bottle, it’s likely it’ll end up down the drain.