My Wine Rating System: From French Tradition to Global Appreciation

"Criticism is easy, but art is difficult." This old saying perfectly applies to wine tasting. Reducing a wine to a single number on a one-dimensional scale often feels inadequate—it doesn't capture the full story of the wine. But let’s be honest: ratings are practical. They help guide consumers and shape the wine market.

As a scientist, I have a natural affinity for numbers and their meaning. Over time, I’ve developed my own rating system, originally based on the 20-point scale used in the French educational system. To make it more accessible to the global wine community, I’ve aligned it with the more familiar 100-point scale used by wine critics and the somewhat restrictive 5-star system of Vivino.

French culture tends to approach evaluation differently than in the U.S. For instance, in France, saying that something is "pas mal" (literally "not bad") is already quite a compliment—closer to an American "pretty good." Excellence, on the other hand, is seen as something extremely rare, something that takes a lifetime to achieve. This philosophy is reflected in my wine ratings.

On my scale:

• 88 points means a well-made wine that meets expectations for its region, appellation, or grape variety—solid but not necessarily remarkable.

• 90 points represents a wine that stands out as one of the best in its category.

• Above 90, wines begin to show an extra dimension, something special that sets them apart.

• 94+ points? This is where things get serious. These wines move me on an emotional level—they are exceptional, rare, and unforgettable.

Because I apply this scale with a high level of discernment, wines rated 94 and above are extremely rare in my reviews—perhaps fewer than five per year (less than 0,5%) . If I give a wine 96+, it’s a moment of pure magic.

To help bridge the gap between different rating systems, I’ve created the following conversion chart:

Of course, no rating system is perfect, and a number alone will never replace a thoughtful tasting note. But this framework helps put my scores in context and makes them easier to interpret across different platforms.

For those who follow my reviews on Instagram and Vivino, this should give a clearer idea of how I rate wines—and why sometimes, a 94+ means I’m nearly in tears of joy!

La critique est aisée, mais l'art est difficile.
La dégustation du vin se réduit souvent à le noter sur une échelle réductrice à une seule dimension. Ce n'est pas intéressant pour parler du vin, mais utile pour le commerce.

Comme je suis de formation et de profession scientifique, les chiffres et leurs utilisations m'intéressent. Je me suis ainsi amusé à établir un tableau d'équivalence de ma notation personnelle sur 20 héritée de la scolarité française avec les systèmes de notation utilisés outre-atlantique (sur 100), voire maintenant par les journalistes français, ou celle super frustrante de Vivino sur 5 en demi-point.

Mise à jour après passage de Vivino à l'échelle en 0,1 point (au lieu de 0,5 point).

 Ancienne échelle

Vivino	English	Mine
2,0	80	10
2,2	81	11
2,5	83	12
2,7	85	13
3,0	86	14
3,3	89	15
3,6	91	16
3,9	93	17
4,3	95	18
4,6	98	19
5,0	100	20

 

 

Intéressante correspondance faite par Vivino entre sa note et les notations de quelques journalistes :

Les 5 étoiles Vivino : tout ce que vous devez savoir sur les notations de la 1ère appli vin au monde

En mettant à disposition de ses membres les commentaires, évaluations et prix de plus de 13 millions de vins notés par une communauté de 26 millions d'utilisateurs, Vivino permet à tous les amateurs de vin de choisir les meilleures cuvées.

https://www.vivino.com