Question about ratings

[Thomas]

You have to remember that ratings are either done in a relative vacuum (rated against only a portion of the wines that are produced on earth) or ratings satisfy an agenda (palate-based, advertising sales based, newsletter sales based, et al).

The only rating that matters is your own, and to do that you must taste and explore a lot--luckily, there is a lot of wine out there to help you get it done.

To those who wonder why they should spend their money before knowing at least a wine's rating all I can say is that I have spent my money on many things--movies, clothes, wine, whatever--that I later regretted. That is the risk of living your own life!