WineHog rating system – more than points

“My mission is to help readers find more joy and hedonistic pleasure in Burgundy wines; to help them understand the terroirs and wines of Burgundy; and through this knowledge be able to enjoy more beautiful Burgundy moments.”

In other words … to find more vin d’émotion.

I have consequently and henceforth changed – or should I say expanded – my rating system. Going forward, my ratings are based on both emotional values and the more traditional 100-point scale.

Vins d’émotion – wines that offer joy and hedonistic thrills

The principle with vins d’emotion is that they bring you extraordinary joy and hedonistic thrills. That said, I want to make it clear that not all great wines have found the magic formula that assures them a place in my heart, along with a strong desire for another glass of the delightful nectar. A wine can be great, and at the same time not be a vin d’emotion.

All wines that evoke these emotional responses deserve a recommendation, and I have therefore created four levels of emotion recommendation: from the true and rare vin d’émotion to wines with some emotional potential. Read the original Vin d’émotion article here ..

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Example: Rating a wine with fine emotional qualities

(Drink From 2030) – Outstanding (95p) – Tasted 02/12/2019 – ?

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Points for comparison – if you really like the traditional scale

I have been using the 100-point scale for three decades, and the problems of using it  have became more and more apparent during my work on this website. It’s very hard – perhaps even impossible – to be truly consistent with ratings on the 100-point scale.

I have therefore changed my points scale – although it still translates my ratings to points – as a service to the readers who prefer the 100-point scale. Or should I say the 101-point  scale!

Winehog rating system with point equivalence:

• Perfect – (101p)
• Legendary – (99-100p)
• Extraordinary – (97-98p)
• Outstanding – (95-96p)
• Very Fine – (93-94p)
• Fine – (91-92p)
• Very Good – (88-90p)
• Good – (85-87p)
• Above Average – (80-84p)
• Average – (75-79p)
• Below Average – (70-74p)
• Poor – (50-69p)

Potential is defined by terroir

The quality – or potential – of a wine is in my view defined by terroir, as the complexity and depth of a wine comes from its terroir. That’s the essence of Burgundy: intriguing and sometimes frustrating.

It’s very important to note that only the very best terroirs can merit a top rating. The best 1ers crus can rival the lesser grand cru wines in quality, but it’s very rare to find a 1er cru that will merit an outstanding rating. And while the best village wines can be fine, they are still village wines – and can almost never merit a “very fine” rating.

A village wine can, however, merit a high emotional rating – and therefore the rating system accounts for both qualities.

Enjoy the wines … and forget the points and ratings!