Well, the title says it all and it is a topic I can argue both sides. As a member of the BC Guild of Wine Judges, I judge in a number of wine competitions every year and attend monthly blind tastings to keep my skills up. It is true that some wines are better made than others. Some can lack varietal character while others may be out of balance or lack finesse. Occasionally, there are wines that have faults; being corked or oxidized. So, yes, there is value in scoring wines.
On the other hand, there is no way you can discount context. A nice red enjoyed on a blanket with a picnic lunch with someone special will always taste its best. Wine tasted while on holiday at some little café with cheese and a baquette, at a seaside restaurant with a lovely view of the water, or while sampling in a wineries tasting room is synonymous with home ice advantage. It’s almost ALWAYS better. There is the dilemma.
Do I pay attention to wine scores when shopping for wines? Yes and no. I have found that some wine reviewers tend to score wines too high and some score too low (according to my standards). So at most, I take scores into consideration. It depends on the source. On the other hand, there are some wines that I really like that score lower than others.
When I do courses on wine education/appreciation, my bottom line is always, “Drink what you like”, because nothing else really matters. I have come to learn that I do not particularly like some of the finest champagnes. I prefer many of the lower priced ones; lucky me, because otherwise, I would seldom get to enjoy those very expensive wines. So if you want to buy me something very special, forgo the Dom Perrignon. I’d much prefer a bottle of Chateau d’ Yquem sauternes.
So by all means, read tasting notes and reviews and pay attention to awards won in competition, but always remember that they do not, and cannot, count for everything. View them as helpful clues and not the whole story.
