Uncorking the Truth: A Deep Dive into Wine Reviews

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Let’s be honest: wine reviews are weird.

They read like poetry written by hungry chemists. They score wines on a 100-point scale, but no one seems to know why. And at their worst, they’re weaponized by shoppers who yell to their kids across the store: “Grab the one with the highest number!”

On a recent episode of After School: The Wine Podcast, Wine School founder Keith Wallace and Director of Wine Education Alana Zerbe took on this strange corner of the wine world—armed with one very good Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a healthy dose of skepticism.

A Love Letter to the 92-Point Score

“Back in the day, a 92 or 93 from Wine Advocate meant you sold everything,” Keith said, recalling his early days as a winemaker. Not just that wine—but your whole lineup.

Ratings once had the power of Olympus. A good score from Robert Parker could make your career. The 100-point scale became gospel. Why? Because Americans love grades. Alana put it simply: “90 to 100 is an A, 80 to 89 is a B… it’s academic. Literally.”

But fast-forward a decade or two, and Parker’s name barely registers with most younger wine drinkers. “Search trends have cratered,” Keith said. “People don’t know who he is anymore.”

What a Score Actually Measures

Here’s the trick: wine ratings don’t measure deliciousness. Not really.

“They measure correctness and typicity,” Alana explained. A Pinot Noir should taste like Pinot Noir. A Grenache should hit the expected marks—lavender nose, plush tannins, low acidity. “If it checks those boxes, it scores well. But that doesn’t mean you’ll like it,” Keith added.

In other words, a wine can be technically perfect and still not your thing. That’s why using scores blindly—without context—is like picking your spouse based on SAT scores.

Can You Trust the System?

Short answer: sometimes. Long answer: proceed with caution.

The wine rating industry has had its share of murky moments—pay-to-play, over-influence, palate bias. Keith didn’t mince words: “There’s been scandal. Bribery. Pay-for-coverage. It’s cleaner now, but far from perfect.”

That said, ratings still have value. Especially when you’re venturing into unfamiliar territory. “If you’re buying a Cabernet Franc from South Africa, ratings help you find a wine that’s made well and tastes like it should,” Keith said.

And in states like Pennsylvania, where you can’t rely on a helpful shopkeeper or your favorite local sommelier, that number on the tag might be all you’ve got.

The Crowd Gets a Say

What about crowd-sourced reviews? Sites like Vivino?

“They tend to reward fruit bombs,” Keith said bluntly. Wines that are easy to like, easy to drink, and sometimes just plain boring. “CellarTracker’s different,” he added. “It’s messy. But it’s filled with people who care deeply and taste seriously.”

For the wine nerds (you know who you are), that makes all the difference.

The Tasting: Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvée Deux Sœurs

To ground their musings in something real—and delicious—Keith and Alana closed the episode with a glass of 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

“Lavender and licorice,” Alana said, “with a little black cherry Jell-O—like my mom used to make.” Keith noted the structure: “Big, unctuous, those fine-grained tannins that grip but don’t strangle.”

It was a wine that should score well. But more importantly, it was one they both enjoyed. Context and personal taste trumped the number.

So… Should You Trust Wine Reviews?

Here’s the final verdict:

• Use scores as a compass, not a Bible. They help orient you, but they’re not the whole story.
• Taste for yourself. You’re the one drinking it.
• Context matters. Know what the score is measuring—and who gave it.

And if all else fails, trust a podcast that drinks the wine with you.

Pour, Listen, Repeat

Curious to hear the full conversation—and maybe open a bottle while you’re at it? Subscribe to After School: The Wine Podcast, where Keith and Alana tell the truth about wine, one glass at a time.

Now go forth. Sniff, swirl, sip… and don’t let the number on the label make the decision for you.