Useful terminology guide

Hugh Johnson's System
Robert Parker's System
Wine Spectator System
Wine Enthusiast System
Basic Juice System

Wine Enthusiast System

This is a newer publication, growing out of The Wine Enthusiast catalog of wine accessories. Perhaps not as regarded as The Wine Spectator, they nonetheless taste and rate a large quantity of wines in their monthly issue. This explanation of their ratings comes from their online site.

98-100:

Classic; The pinnacle of quality

94-97:

Superb; A great achievement

90-93:

Excellent; Highly Recommended

87-89:

Very Good; Often good value; well recommended

83-86:

Good; Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value

80-82:

Acceptable; Can be employed in casual, less-critical circumstances

In addition to their numeric scale, they also give some special ratings each issue. These include:

Editors' Choice

The highest recommendations in each issue.

Cellar Selections

Wines deemed highly collectible and/or requiring time in a wine cellar to reach their maximum potential.


Best Buys

Wines that offer a high level of quality in relation to price and are generally cost less than $15.

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