wine rating question

[gitano]

If I see a review of a Cotes-du-Rhone(CdR) red from famous critic at 92 points and I see a Chateauneuf-du-Pape(CdP) rated at 89 by the same famous critic, should I assume that the quality of the CdR is higher than that of the CdP and therefore a better buy? Or can I only assume that the quality of each of these wines can only be judged against other wines of the same appellation (CdR to CdR and CdP to CdP)?

[Botafogo]

Here are the views of one of our favorite Barolo producers:

“To wine ‘guides’, humbly speaking:
In 1983 I asked the journalist Sheldon Wasserman not to publish scores for my wines. Not only did he not publish the scores; in his book, “Italy’s Noble Red Wines”, he also wrote that I had asked not to be included in ‘classifications’ in which a comparison becomes a divisive numerical term rather than expressing shared human toil. I have not changed my mind: my tiny farm producing 20,000 bottles of wine a year interests only a small number of customer-friends. I believe in freedom of information, even if the judgment is negative. I think of my hills as an anarchical arena, with no inquisitors or opposing factions, whose inner richness is stimulated by severe, thoughtful critics; I strive for a community that can still express solidarity with whoever has not been so well-rewarded by Mother nature. Wishful thinking? Allow me to dream.”

Roberto

[winoweenie]

Hi there Gitano and welcome to the board. The normal way I see the numbers are meant to reflect are the quality of the varietal being appraised. A Merlot scoring 91 should be compared to a merlot scoring 89. A cab scoring 89 should be judged by other cabs from the same area. What I think our resident philosopher was trying to convey was that ALL numbers should be looked at with the jaundiced eye. You need to use them only as a guide. Taste the juice yourself, decide if that sucker makes contact with your taste-buds and makes sense, then put your own number on it. WW

[Thomas]

Gitano, when you have a wine rating all you have is the opinion of the one who rated it.