My scale is totally subjective. The number of stars indicates how much I enjoyed a wine at the time. No more, no less. Assume wines are not tasted blind unless I say otherwise.
* Avoid
** Just about acceptable, but I’d prefer to drink something else
*** Perfectly acceptable – good even. Most of the wines I drink are at this level
**** Has that little something extra. Maybe intensity of flavour, maybe complexity
***** Has a lot of something extra. A wow factor
****** Mind-blowingly good. Difficult to imagine how it could be improved
As my rating system is about enjoyment, you might find it useful to know a bit more about my tastes. I enjoy red Burgundy, Barolo, Syrah and Riesling. I can get along with good Champagne too, preferably Pinot dominated Champagne with some maturity. Oh, and Musar and Beaucastel, so I am am not to worried by VA and brett. Not so keen on Claret, or any varietal with the word Cabernet or Sauvignon in the name, but at the right moment any style of wine has a place on my palate. Compared to many British wine lovers it seems I tend to prefer younger wines; I appreciate tertiary flavours but mourn dying fruit at an earlier stage than others. Zingy, tangy aromatic wines of any colour are fine, but heavy treacly reds do little for me. I hope that gives you a fair picture.
