My Wine Rating Scale

Here is my scale for when I rate a wine. Please note that what I rate a wine is completely my opinion and subjective, so what I say is no more right or wrong than someone's differentiating opinion on a specific wine. I also take the price of a wine into consideration; if a wine is very enjoyable and a moderate price, I tend to rate it higher versus a wine with similar tastes but with a higher price.

From Highest to Lowest

Exceptional, Highly Recommended:

This rating is for wines that completely blew me away for their combination of aromas and flavors, and how well all those integrated into the body, balance, and overall structure of the wine. These are wines that I thoroughly enjoyed and leave an impression on me that I will never forget. Wines with this rating are definitely worth seeking out. 

Highly Recommended:

Great wines fit into this category, but there might be a factor that holds it back from being exceptional. With that being said, these are wines that I enjoyed immensely, would definitely drink again, and would highly recommend to my friends and family.  

Recommended:

Good wines that I enjoyed drinking, but there might be some flaws or the wine did not leave a lasting impression on me. Definitely would recommend wines in this category to my friends and family for non-special occasions and for a normal weeknight dinner.  

Decent: 

As the name says, a decent wine that was drinkable but I probably would not buy again and only recommend if someone was in a pinch. 

Not Recommended:

Wines that I did not enjoy and would not recommend. This rating is rare because wines have greatly improved in quality over the years.