where are the personal taste ratings? (reds)

[Bucko]

I personally have a real aversion to rating wines -- I prefer to just describe the wine. For one, ratings are very subjective and have no value if you do not agree with the rater. Two, I challenge anyone to numerically rate five wines blind, then mix up the glasses and have them rate the same wines again and get within one point on all wines -- fun to observe the results. Three, ratings are a death knell to 89 point wines. We tend to have a mind set that 90 is good, anything else is akin to failure. If you don't believe it, ask the retailers who deal with people coming into the shop with ratings sheets from Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate et al. They want 90+ wines, while a very good 89 point wine languishes on the shelf. But, my opinion and $2.50 will get you a Latte.....

Bucko