Netscape Forum Poll: How important are point ratings?

[Robin Garr]

The conventional wisdom holds that numerical wine-points ratings by Robert M. Parker Jr. and Wine Spectator magazine can make or break a wine's success, and that a 90-plus rating is money in the bank to the lucky producer who wins this accolade. Yet many wine enthusiasts say they ignore ratings or even use them negatively, assuming that highly rated wines are likely to be manufactured, monolithic blockbusters that many more serious wine lovers disdain. What do you think? This week's poll offers you the opportunity to take your stand on wine points.

<b>Click here to vote</b>.

Most wine geeks know what they like, have a store they depend on or rely on comments from like minded people. I can honestly say I pay ZERO attention to points except where one of my favorites gets 95-100 and I have to take a pass until the next vintage due to the elevated price. I will pay attention to the TNs if I run into a rated wine, just not the points given.
Walt

Much as I'd like to say Never, I admit to occasionally. I don't buy solely on that basis, and have even stripped my excel spreadsheet of the "points" column, but with so many wines, and shelf hangers all over the place, it is hard to ignore them, if only to narrow the choices. But I only use them in conjunction with the notes. A 92 pointer that is "inky black, lush, round, and bursting in fruit" will get far less attention from me than a similarly priced 86 pointer that is "nuanced, layered, well-structured, and well-balanced with sufficient acidity..." But between two wines I don't know, one with a shelf hanger show a 92 point rating and an 84 pointer from the same source, with the same second description, and the same cost, I would take the higher scorer in all probability, at least for trial purposes, and particularly if it is an inexpensive wine. I really hate to admit that here, but I know I am influenced in those circumstances.

[Robin Garr]

I really hate to admit that here, but I know I am influenced in those circumstances.

I wouldn't want to say this real loud, OW, but I'm pretty much the same way.

Personally, I voted 'never'. When I try wines, I will write a descriptive note on them, but do not use numeric scores as I do not believe that you can quantify enjoyment in a universally meaningful way. When I see a numeric score beside a given wine in Vintages' magazine, for instance, then I simply think that someone either liked or disliked it - which may not have any relevance to what my palate will tell me about the wine should I try it.

I am definitely not getting involved in this thread

I think that these pointy scores are pretty darned important. How else would I know what to buy? Without points, wine schleppers wouldn't have a clue as to what wines to recommend to customers?
'Winger 'n it

It's one of several factors I consider with a wine new to me. The person making the recco matters a great deal -- and several I rely on don't use numbers -- Robin, Matt Kramer, many of the posters here.

But some posters do use numbers as do other I follow -- Robinson, Tanzer, some of the Parkers -- and then the numbers add meaning to the review and really can't be separated out or ignored.

Also, if a retailer I turst -- CSW, Beekman -- post numbers, I ask about the source -- sometimes the number has been assigned by one of the staff members and that makes a difference.

Finally, loud and clear here, I'm with OW: "I know I am influenced in those circumstances."