The most monumental shift in modern wine history was the emergence of Robert Parker with his publication The Wine Advocate (TWA). The publication, first released in 1978 as a newsletter, was unveiled with each wine receiving an accompanying numerical value based on a 100-point system. The simple structure allowed wines to be ranked on a scale from 50 - 100, with scores correlating to the following:
- 96–100: Extraordinary
- 90–95: Outstanding
- 80–89: Barely above average to very good
- 70–79: Average
- 60–69: Below average
- 50–59: Unacceptable
Robert Parker's Impact
Over the years that followed, the 100-point system would prove to have a substantial impact on the wine industry. Such a straightforward system made the nuanced jargon associated with wine suddenly accessible to the general public. By demystifying wine and empowering consumers, Parker shaped the American public’s relationship to wine and gave consumers an extremely valuable tool collecting wine. As a luxury product often priced at a premium compared to other beverages, wine can already be a challenging expenditure to justify and the simplicity of the 100-point scoring system gave consumers the confidence to take more chances on wines they might not otherwise purchase.
Trusted Critics Beyond Parker
Since Robert Parker’s retirement, many wine critics have flooded in to fill his void. To many, Robert Parker’s departure marks an end of an era as he was the most influential figure in the modern wine industry. While TWA lives on with a team of reviewers who represent the publication, there are other extremely influential wine critics who are vying for the spotlight:
- Antonio Galloni: got his start as an Italian wine expert, worked at TWA from 2006 - 2013, and has since found continuing success as founder and CEO of his wine media platform Vinous.
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown: a Master of Wine and alumna of TWA, starting her career with Robert Parker in 2008, becoming Editor-in-Chief for the publication before leaving in 2021 to co-found The Wine Independent
- Jeb Dunnuck: a Robert Parker protege at TWA from 2013 - 2017, and currently running an eponymous online publication, JebDunnuck.com
- Allen Meadows: publisher of Burghound, a quarterly newsletter that focuses on Pinot Noir- and Chardonnay-based wines from Burgundy and the United States, with the occasional inclusion of sparkling wine and Champagne.
- Neal Martin: UK wine critic who wrote the book on Pomerol (literally, though now out of print), worked for TWA for 11 years before transitioning to Vinous in 2017
- Stephen Tanzer: Bordeaux expert, previously the publisher of International Wine Cellar, a bimonthly journal, which in 2014 was acquired by Vinous where he know works as editor
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James Suckling: rose to fame over the years after joining Wine Spectator in 1981, departing in 2010 to work on his eponymous online publication.
How are 100-point wines scored?
While each critic approaches wine evaluation according to their own philosophy, most opt to taste wines blind in order to offset any chance of bias or influence. Wine critics spend decades honing their palates to detect small nuances. While everyday drinkers may engage with wine regularly, this tends to be in a more passive manner, whereas professionals go to lengths to train their palates and actively engage with various aspects of a wine’s character. Just as important, the procedure of analysis is vital to ensure all aspects of a wine are considered, including a wine’s appearance, texture, aromatics, and finish.
A high-scoring wine will present well in each of these individual categories, according to the style, but a 100-point wine will strike a particular balance, interplaying all of the various aspects of a wine into a harmonic experience for the taster. While this fleeting relationship with wine can be quite subjective, wine critics typically look for aromatic complexity (how many different notes the smell or taste of a wine can summon) and a lengthy finish (how long the wine lingers on the palate after it has already been tasted).
Understanding 100-Point Wines: The Pursuit of Perfection
Respected wine critics who are well-versed in their knowledge of wine, different regions, and other nuances are the people that provide an overall scoring for a wine. Due to every critic having a different palette and preferences, the scores for one wine can vary from person to person. The universal 100-point scale is used to provide an overall scoring of a wine, where a 100 point wine is considered a perfect wine. 100 pointers are rare and, once rated, typically increase to significantly higher prices.
The Evolution Of 100-Point Wines - How Scores Evolve with the Wine
One of wine’s most enigmatic qualities is its relationship to age, and part of the allure of opening a bottle of wine can be its ephemeral aspects. These shape-shifting abilities depend on time and environment, but also on inherent quality, structure, and vintage. Critics can often see wine in its early phases and assess where a wine’s journey may take it, but on occasion a wine may take a slightly different path, and critics will likely have to reassess later in its journey. These changes can be reflected in a change in score when a wine’s evolution can build a more complete picture of its stance in a 100-point scale. These changes may tick up or down, depending, but it will always be a reflection of how the wine is presenting along its journey and its potential for further aging.
Seeking Out 100-Point Wines
The 100-Point score is a rare accolade, bestowed only on a few wines each year, and for consumers in search of “the best” wine, the coveted 100-point score provides a guiding light. With many critics weighing in on any given wine, a particular bottling is capable of achieving multiple 100-point scores, indicating not only a stellar bottle but one recognized as such by many distinct professionals. 100-point wines represent the pinnacle of wine expression, making them highly sought-after and extraordinarily collectible. These prestige wines often come with a premium price tag due to their high quality and general scarcity, but 100-point wines are gateways to ethereal experiences worth the splurge.
