Wine Rating Systems
At Hawks Hill Ranch Winery, we believe a wine’s story is best told through a thoughtful tasting note, but a score provides a clear, concise way to express our preferences. By including a score, we offer context for our evaluations, allowing our notes to focus on the wine’s unique characteristics rather than broad comparisons.
Wine Scoring System
Wine ratings range from 50 to 100 points. Here’s how we break it down:
96–100: Exceptional. These wines represent the pinnacle of quality, showcasing unparalleled depth and character.
90–95: Outstanding. Remarkable wines that stand out for their style and are worth seeking out.
85–89: Very Good. These wines offer distinct character and may reward aging.
80–84: Good. Solid wines that deliver pleasure, especially with food or in casual settings, though they may lack complexity.
50–79: Not Recommended. Ranging from passable to flawed, these wines fall short of our standards.
Approach to Wine Evaluation
We evaluate wines based on how well they express their intended style, not by comparing them to others from the same region or variety. After years of blind tastings, we’ve seen even experts struggle to pinpoint regions or grape varieties, so we focus on the wine’s inherent quality and character.
Our notes aim to highlight a wine’s personality and suggest its optimal drinking window. Whether you enjoy the vibrant energy of young, structured wines or the refined elegance of fully mature bottles, we believe great wines can shine at any stage. For example, a youthful Châteauneuf-du-Pape may thrill some palates with its bold tannins, while others may prefer it after years of aging.
A Note on Subjectivity
Wine scoring is inherently subjective, reflecting the personal perspective of our expert tasters at Hawks Hill Ranch Winery. A single score or note offers just a snapshot—true insight comes from exploring multiple notes and tastings to understand our palate and preferences. We value individual expertise over panel-based scores, ensuring our ratings are authentic and meaningful.
Explore our wines, read our notes, and discover what speaks to you. At Hawks Hill Ranch Winery, we’re passionate about crafting wines that inspire and delight.l begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.