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WINE magazine panel tasting procedures, rating definitions

WINE magazine conducts and reports on several panel tastings every month: annual category reviews as well as regular assessments of recent releases and new products. The teams of experienced judges include Cape Wine Masters, top winemakers and leading wine writers, with tasting procedures and results audited by chartered accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The wines reviewed are generally sourced from the producers to minimise the risk of less than ideal storage conditions. Tastings are conducted blind, without sight of the labels – class by class, in vintage order and at optimal temperatures. There are never fewer than six wines under review in any particular class (to ensure they’re judged in context), and the wines are presented to the judges in a manner that enables them to back-taste and compare the wines as they evolve in the glass.
Once the panellists have assessed the line-up of wines independently, Star ratings are awarded on the basis of discussion rather than relying solely on arithmetical averaging. Attributes or flaws associated with each wine are debated with a view to reaching consensus.
A 20-point scoring system is used:
5 Stars awarded for a score of 18 or more,
4½ Stars for 17 and 4 Stars for a score of 16,
3½ Stars for 15.5 points and 3 Stars for 15 out of 20,
2½ Stars for 14.5 and 2 Stars for 14 points,
1 Star for 13 out of 20.

5 Stars Superlative, top class; a masterpiece (96 or more on 100-point scale; “extraordinary… profound” – Robert Parker)
4 Stars Excellent, wine of distinction (90–95 on 100-point scale; “outstanding… exceptional” – Robert Parker)
3 Stars Good to very good; fine character and style (80–89 on 100-point scale; 80–84 “above average”, 85–89 “very good” – Robert Parker)
2 Stars Average, appealing (70–79 on 100-point scale; 70–74 “average”, 75–79 “pleasant, straightforward” – Robert Parker)
1 Star Acceptable, ordinary (60–69 on 100-point scale; “below average… of little interest” – Robert Parker)
½ Star Half a Star, as in 2½ Stars, 3½ Stars, 4½ Stars
Also Tasted: unacceptable or faulty, no redeeming attributes (50–59 on 100-point scale; “unacceptable” – Robert Parker)

WINE tasting reports identify all of the wines reviewed, together with the prices (ex-cellar unless stated otherwise), presented so as to highlight the best value-for-money within each quality grouping. Best Value rankings are determined by dividing the average price of all the wines by the price of an individual wine and multiplying by the Star rating for that wine. Top-rated wines are assessed by way of an overview of the tasters’ comments raised in discussion and noted on their score-sheets, inclusive of how long it will last – or when it will peak – at the time of tasting.
WINE subscribers are the first to know the results of each WINE tasting, with the identity of the wines and their ratings withheld from all but the editorial team until publication.
For a database of ratings published in previous issues of the magazine, click here.