The American Wine Society has created its own 20-point scale for use in evaluating wines. Basically, AWS urges members to evaluate wines at monthly tastings using the following scale:
- Appearance (3 points)
- Aroma/Bouquet (6 points)
- Taste/Texture (6 points)
- Aftertaste (3 points)
- Overall Impression (2 points)
As you examine and drink a wine, you score each category above from zero to the maximum number of points indicated (using guidelines provided here), then total, for a maximum score of 20. For example, wines rated 18-20 are considered Extraordinary, 15-17 Excellent, and 12-14 Good.
AWS Wine Evaluation ChartHints for Using the Chart
- Unless you see discoloration or particles floating in the wine (for example), you should generally give Appearance a 3. Just because you like to see dark red wines or golden yellow wines doesn't mean a lighter shade of red or a pale yellow is a defect! Consider the type of wine carefully when downgrading here, if doing so on color alone.
- Remember that you are evaluating a wine against a theoretical standard. When rating Aroma, for example, a bit of "barnyard" aroma might be characteristic of a certain style of wine and isn't necessarily a bad characteristic, even if you don't prefer it yourself. Try to be objective. Another example: some of us don't like the grassiness typical of many sauvignon blancs, but that doesn't make a given wine bad. Be a little restrained in your negative evaluations when your personal tastes wouldn't typically include a given style of wine.
- When entering a numeric rating, we recommend that the Total Score not be recorded by fractions less than ½; that is, please don't record Total Scores like 17.3 or 17¼. A 17.5 or 17½ is OK. How you record your individual ratings leading up to a Total Score is up to you. For instance, you may wish to use a plus (+) and minus (-) notation for individual scores or fractional ratings, but stick with increments of ½ for the Total Scores.
- When you are done, if you have rated a wine a 20, this is like Robert Parker rating it 95-100! Is it really one of the finest wines you have ever tasted, extraordinary and flawless? On the other hand, if you have rated a wine below 12, you are saying it's a real dog (with apologies to our canine friends), and below 9 it's a disaster. If you find yourself disagreeing with your own overall rating, go back and seek the best categories for minor adjustments.
Beaujolais (boh-zhoh-lay): A light, fruity red wine from the Beaujolais region in southern Burgundy.
Bordeaux (bore-doh): A region of southwestern France and home to what many consider some of the world’s greatest wines. Bordeaux wines are usually a blend of grapes including cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc. (See also claret and meritage.)
Burgundy (ber-gun-dee): Many consider France’s Burgundy region to be the home of the world’s best wines, and the Burgundy versus Bordeaux thing is a big catfight among wine snobs. White Burgundies usually come from chardonnay grapes and red Burgundies from pinot noir. Inexpensive American wines labeled “Burgundy” are fakes.
cabernet sauvignon (ca-ber-nay soh-vin-yon): Considered one of the “noble” red wine grapes because of its high quality, “cab” is usually dark and full-bodied.
Chablis (sha-blee): White wine made from chardonnay grapes in the Chablis region of northern Burgundy, France. Any wine labeled Chablis that doesn’t actually come from Chablis is not a true Chablis.
Champagne (sham-pain): Sparkling or bubbly wine made in the Champagne region of France. Other types of bubbly include cava (Spain), prosecco (Italy), spumante (Italy), and sekt (Germany). Most others are just sparkling wine.
chardonnay (shar-doh-nay): The world’s most-produced white wine. Robust and highly versatile, this grape can pick up all kinds of flavors. In general, French chardonnays, such as Chablis, have a simpler taste, while California-style “chards” are full of fruit and oak.
2007
Average Price: $19.76
About Casa Lapostolle
With consultation from renowned
Expert Reviews
Rated: 89 by Josh Raynolds, Mar/Apr 09
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Light gold. Exotic aromas of smoked meat, poached pear, yellow plum and oak spices. Weighty but precise on the palate, offering lively citrus and pit fruit flavors and a jolt of candied licorice. The oak spice repeats on the finish, which is broad and gently sweet.
Expert Ratings
Wine Spectator: 91 points
APPEARANCE
3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
2 - Excellent
Total Score
17 Excellent
Chateauneuf-du-Pape (sha-toh-noof-doo-pop): Literally “new castle of the Pope” (it’s a medieval thing), Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines are usually made from a blend of grapes and can be either red or white. Considered quite fine (Ernest Hemingway was a big fan), they can be identified by the papal coat of arms on the bottle.
Chianti (kee-ahn-tee): A dry red wine from Tuscany, in northern Italy, made from sangiovese and other grapes.
Da Vinci Chianti Classico 2008
Sangiovese from Tuscany , Italy
winemaker's notes:
95% Sangiovese, 5% Colovino
Color: Clear, purple-red
Bouquet: Spicy, cedary oak with aromas of black cherries and dark plum fruit.
Palate: Well balanced, medium to full bodied wine, ripe with flavors of plum, black cherries and dark fruit. A well structured wine that is ripe and elegant with a silky mouth-feel that lingers in a long earthy, peppery finish
This Chianti Classico has enough structure to stand up to robust main courses like Lasagna, Chicken Cacciatore or Osso Bucco but is also excellent with firm and hard cheeses. Serve slightly below room temperature (16°C–20°C).
APPEARANCE
2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
3 - Acceptable - Slight aroma and bouquet. Pleasant.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good
balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
1 - Good
Total Score
12 Good
claret (clar-ette, not clar-ay): A peculiar term used in England for red Bordeaux wines or wines in the same style. It comes from a misunderstanding that stems back to the Middle Ages. Don’t ask.
Cotes-du-Rhone (coat-doo-roan): Red and white wines made from the French Cotes-du-Rhone region made from a blend of varietals.
gewurztraminer (gah-vert-strah-mee-ner): A white grape grown in Alsace, Germany; New York; and on the west coast of the U.S. “Gewurz” wines tend toward the sweet and fruity end of the spectrum.
Name of Wine Columbia Winery
Type Gewürztraminer Vintage 2007
Price 15.99 Date Jan 2010
Purchased/Received From Weigman
A light straw color with delicate aromas of spice and lychee flavors with hints of cinnamon and flowers gives way to a good balance between sweetness and acidity on the palate. The Columbia Winery 2007 Gewurztraminer is an excellent match for fresh fruit and cheeses as well as complementing simple fish and chicken dishes and recipes that include oriental flavors and curry.
APPEARANCE2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFFERTASTE.
2 – Good – Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
2 – Excellent
TOTAL SCORE
14 Good
meritage (like “heritage” but with an “m”): A term used to distinguish wines made in the style of Bordeaux blends outside the Bordeaux region. They’re basically clarets made in the U.S., Australia, or South Africa.
merlot (mer-loh): The ever-popular red grape, second only to cabernet. Merlot varies from medium- to full-bodied and can sometimes be mistaken for cab.
pinot blanc (French: pee-noh blahnk), pinot grigio (Italian: pee-noh gree-zhee-oh): A white grape that produces a dry, full-bodied white wine.
Purchased/Received From
Vintage 2005 Price $19.00 Date July 2008
Serve With - Pinot Grigio's saving grace is its bone-dry and sprightly acidity that makes it a natural companion to seafood, particularly shellfish, fowl, light pastas, and cheese. Depending on the acidity of the wine, it would be best to avoid high acid foods, pastas with tomato or citrus. Serve well-chilled. This wine makes great Sangrias!
APPEARANCE
2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth.
AFFERTASTE
3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
2 – Excellent
TOTAL SCORE
15 or Excellent
Additional Comments and Tasting notes:
Hints of aromatic citrus and fresh lemongrass create a fruit forward and assertive table wine with a full palate and well balanced finish making it a softer and more flavorful Pinot Gris than any you may have tried.
Gary Vaynerchuk Rated 85
Italian Reds
Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d' Abruzzo "Tralcetto" Riserva 2007 WA 90
"Deep garnet-purple colour. Ripe cherry and tobacco leaf aromas with a touch of game. Medium-full body with good concentration of fruit and a medium to high level of balancing acidity. Medium+ level of grainy tannins. Long finish. Tasted July 2009" Lisa Perrotti-Brown
APPEARANCE
3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 - Good - Characteristic aroma. Distinguishable bouquet.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good
balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
2 - Excellent
TOTAL SCORES
15 Excellent
pinot noir(pee-noh nwar): A red grape originally from the Burgundy region of France but now grown in California, Oregon, and elsewhere. It can make highly complex wines, often described as earthy and velvety.
Pouilly-Fuisse (poo-yee fwee-say): A white Burgundy made from chardonnay grapes.
riesling (reez-ling): A German white grape from the Rhine and Mosel regions that makes a slightly sweet, somewhat acidic wine.
Bottle Price: 14:99
The grapes used in Charles Smith's "Kung Fu Girl" Riesling are harvested from a single rocky vineyard, resulting in a wine with lush aromatics and tons of flavors. On the nose, Kung Fu Girl is bursting with Asian pear, white peach and spring flowers. Apricot, pear, lime, and a pleasant minerality keep this off-dry wine at the perfect level of subtle sweetness. This is a great wine for a summer picnic.
Product of
Alcohol by Volume: 12.5%
89 points Wine Enthusiast: "This 2009 is the fourth vintage for this extraordinarily popular Riesling, again showing bright, vivid, punch citrus fruit and juicy acids. Residual sugar is about 1.5% and once again it is sourced from the Evergreen vineyard. With production climbing to 20,000 cases.
APPEARANCE
2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 - Good - Characteristic aroma. Distinguishable bouquet.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good
balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
1 - Good
Total Overall
13 Good
Schloss Walhausen "Two Princes" Riesling 2008 (
The subtle sweetness and fruity characteristics of Two Princes Riesling are balanced by both vibrant acidity and pleasant minerality that allows for easy pairing with a wide range of meals; it is particularly well-suited for seafood, but also pleasant alone.
Product of
Alcohol by Volume: 10.5%
APPEARANCE
2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
3 - Acceptable - Slight aroma and bouquet - Pleasant.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
1 - Good
Total Score 12 – Good
2007 S.A. Prüm "Wehlener Sonnenuhr" Riesling Kabinett , Mosel-Saar-Ruwer ,
Germany
APPEARANCE
2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not
overwhelming.
AFTERTASTE
3 - Excellent - Lingering outstanding aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
2 - Excellent
Total Score
17 Excellent
Tasting Notes:
Palest gold in the glass, this wine has a heady nose of candle wax, candied tangerine zest, and honeysuckle aromas. In the mouth it is soft and lovely, with less acidity than I would expect (or desire), but nice flavors of beeswax, honeysuckle, ripe pears, and hints of lychee on the finish. Almost completely dry, with a touch of sugar, it is delicate and delicious.
rose (roh-zay): Pink wine made from red grapes, with the skins left in just long enough to tint the juice. There are many good roses, but steer clear of white zinfandel, white shiraz, or blush wines. They’re strictly for rookies.
sauvignon blanc (soh-vin-yon blahnk): A white grape from the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. Now grown just about everywhere, it makes a light, refreshing wine.
Nyakas Budai
Type Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2006
Price $12.00 Date Aug 2008
Purchased/Received From on line
Serve With
APPEARANCE
2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance
TASTE AND TEXTURE
4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.
AFFERTASTE
3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
1 – Good
TOTAL SCORE
14 Good
Additional Comments and Tasting notes
Grass dominates its smell and its taste, besides wet hay. Plus lot of unripe peach. Loads of acid.
Goldwater –
Type Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2008
Price $16.99 Date Gift 11/17/2009
Purchased/Received From
Serve With Afghan kabobs was delicious
APPEARANCE
2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color
AROMA AND BOUQUET
4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance
TASTE AND TEXTURE
5 – Excellent – All of the above but a little less, Excellent but not overwhelming.
May have minor imperfections.
3 – Acceptable – Undistinguished wine but pleasant. May have minor off flavors.
AFFERTASTE
3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
2 – Excellent
TOTAL SCORE 17 Excellent
Additional Comments and Tasting notes: Pale straw gold. Intensely aromatic and fragrant aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, and rock melon with subtle citrus notes providing a further lift. This wine displays real fruit intensity without being aggressive. Rich ripe flavors meld with tropical and citrus nuances. It has a crisp mouth feel, is well balanced with an elegant, long finish.
shiraz (shih-raz): Syrah from Australia or South Africa.
2006 Jip Jip Rocks
Five generations of Brysons have been involved in South Australian agriculture, establishing the Jip Jip Rocks vineyards in the
APPEARANCE
3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not
overwhelming.
AFTERTASTE
2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
1 - Good
Total Score
16 Excellent
syrah (sir-ah): A red grape from the Rhone region of France, often used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. Now grown all over the world, syrah is a popular varietal on its own.
Jim Barry Price $19.49
Wine Spectator 90 points
Winemaker’s notes:
The color is a deep, intense purple. On the nose it is aromatic and complex, with a combination of fruit and spice, cinnamon, white pepper, cajun spices, mocha, liquorice and blackberry. On the palate it is immensely approachable with hints of menthol, spearmint, violets and boysenberry, with soft supple tannins.
APPEARANCE
3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.
AROMA AND BOUQUET
5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.
TASTE AND TEXTURE
6 - Extraordinary - Unmistakable characteristic flavor of grape-variety or wine-
type. Extraordinary balance. Smooth, full-bodied and
overwhelming.
AFTERTASTE
3 - Excellent - Lingering outstanding aftertaste.
OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES
2 - Excellent
Total Score
19 Extraordinary
zinfandel (just as it is spelled): California’s special wine, noted for its raisin and jam flavors. Initially believed to be an indigenous grape, DNA sourcing has shown it to be identical to grapes grown in Italy and Eastern Europe. The California climate renders these wines unique, which just goes to show that region can trump varietal in wine-making.
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