| LCBO

The scoop on scores
 

" "

It can be exciting to see a 94-point score on a wine that costs less than $20. But does that score mean the wine is better than a more expensive bottle with a 92 attached to it? A wine score is an indication of a wine’s quality and value within a particular context; along with reviews, scores are useful tools designed to help you choose which wines to buy. We invite you to use this handy guide to learn about wine reviews while you discover 23 top-shelf beauties to impress your guests and dazzle your palate.


Points, stars and cups

Of all the ways critics rate wine, the most popular by far is the 100-point scale. Created by Robert Parker Jr. with the release of his newsletter, The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate, in August of 1978, the scale is used to give an aggregated score based on a wine’s key features: appearance, aroma, flavour, finish, and ageing potential. Since then, popular publications and websites such as Wine Enthusiast, vinous.com, jamessuckling.com, jebdunnuck.com and more have adopted this method. Though commonly used, the 100-point scale is not universal. British journalists and Masters of Wine (MW) Jancis Robinson and Clive Coates use a 20-point scale when reviewing wine, New Zealand critic Michael Cooper channels the cosmos with a five-star rating system, and European food and wine magazines Le Guide Hachette des Vins and Gambero Rosso will score high-quality wines on a scale of 1-3, the former using stars, the latter goblets.

The tea on quality

Does a high price guarantee a high score? Does an extra $20 on the price tag mean that a wine will be noticeably better? Higher-priced wines are usually more expensive due to the cost that goes into production, the scarcity of the wine, and its high demand. That doesn’t mean that affordable wines are doomed to forever be in the realm of 90-92 points. Standout producers, good vintages and other factors can affect a wine’s score even if it is readily available. Take Plaimont les Cépages Préservés Saint-Mont 2019 (36911). At only $18.95, it scored 95 points from decanter.com for its price-quality ratio, complex bouquet, and surprising ageability.




Critical thinking

At Vintages, we source reviews from a range of magazines, online publications, international wine awards shows and more to help customers find the perfect bottle. This is a short list of some of the most reliable and trusted voices.

 

" "

Kerin O’Keefe of Wine Enthusiast.


Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate / The genesis of the 100-point scoring system, The Wine Advocate is one of the USA’s most trusted resources for high-end wine reviews and education, with thousands of critiques and articles that dive deep into regions, wineries, winemakers and more.
Decanter / Decanter is the UK’s oldest and most reliable wine resource, boasting an impressive number of masters of wine (MW) on its staff. Consumers, trade partners, agents and collectors have put their faith in Decanter for almost 50 years.
Wine Enthusiast / One of the largest monthly publications for wine, lifestyle, cuisine and more, Wine Enthusiast is an excellent resource not just for wines available in the North American market but also for local restaurants, travel ideas, recipe inspiration, and deals on products to elevate your wine- drinking experience.
James Suckling / One of the most recognizable names in wine (and cigars), James Suckling has been an informative source on quality products for over 40 years. With staff in countries all around the world, jamessuckling.com is a great place to find interviews with acclaimed winemakers and stay up to date on current vintages.
WineAlign / Canada’s premier wine-review website focuses on the wines of Ontario, British Columbia and other emerging Canadian regions, and also covers international wines. Reviews by some of our nation’s brightest wine and food personalities are found at WineAlign, including former Toronto chef Michael Godel; sommelier and contest judge Sarah d’Amato; and Canada’s first master sommelier, John Szabo, MS.
International magazines / For those with an affinity for wines from a particular area, it may be best to trust the voices that are closest to the source. Much like we trust WineAlign for Canadian wines, you can trust in Descorchados for the wines of Chile, Wine Orbit for New Zealand, Winestate for Australia, or Falstaff for the wines of Germany and Austria, to name a few.
Wine contests / Some scores aren’t awarded by a single critic but are aggregated scores given by a panel of judges. There are many contests all around the world that promote the wines of a specific sub-region, but there are also big-time international competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards or International Wine Challenge that compare wines from similar price ranges to give a fair appraisal.


The trust factor

With so many sources at your disposal, who do you rely on? Finding a critic who specializes in wines from a region that you enjoy or has a palate similar to your own tastes can make your wine shopping experience a breeze. When you come across a wine you’re unfamiliar with that has a glowing recommendation from a trusted critic, it will make buying it seem less of a risk. Knowing who to trust with your purchase can be an invaluable resource for finding your new go-to favourite.

Ask our experts

Sometimes the best approach is simply asking for help. LCBO is proud to have knowledgeable Product Consultants as part of their in-store staff. Our Product Consultants have extensive training and regularly participate in release tastings to ensure they know as much as possible about the wines in our stores. Next time you visit the Vintages section in an LCBO store, ask for and introduce yourself to the Product Consultant. They love nothing better than helping customers find the perfect pour and pairing.


" "

No score? No problem.

When flipping through the Vintages catalogue, you’re sure to come across wines without a score. This isn’t a reflection of a wine’s quality, it’s simply that not every wine in the world will catch a review. Sometimes it’s because there are just too many wines out there to review, and sometimes it’s simply timing; our buyers often select wines that we release before the wine press have reviewed them. Whenever there’s a wine that hasn’t been reviewed and/or scored, our in-house experts will taste and research the wine to provide a taste profile that will tell you what to expect.


Find out first!

Get Vintages Latest emails to stay in the know about new releases, special offers, events and more

Sign up

Wine 101

Learn about the world's top wine styles and regions from our feature story archives.

Explore now

Shop the New Release Collection

Hundreds of new and remarkable wines to try every month.

Explore now

Shop Vintages and earn

Check out this month's featured bonus point offers

Explore now