Wine Tasting Guide

Halliday Wine Companion's approach to tasting: how the Tasting Team assess and review wine

By Halliday Wine Companion

The Halliday Tasting Team uses the globally recognised 100-point system. This ‘Ratings Scale’ is often the main framework adopted by wine and spirits shows both nationally and internationally, as well as by critics worldwide.

Wine Ratings Scale

97-99

G

O

L

D

5 glasses - red

 

Exceptional

Wines of major trophy standard in important wine shows.

95-96

5 glasses - black

Outstanding

Wines of gold medal standard, usually with a great pedigree.

94

S

I

L

V

E

R

5 glasses - black

Wines on the cusp of gold medal status.

90-93

4.5 glasses

Highly Recommended

Wines of silver medal standard, demonstrating great quality, style and character, and worthy of a place in any cellar.

89

B

R

O

N

Z

E

4 glasses

Recommended

Wines on the cusp of silver medal standard.

86-88

4 glasses

Wines of bronze medal standard; well produced, flavoursome wines, usually not requiring cellaring.

84-85

3.5 glasses

Acceptable

Wines of good commercial quality, free from significant fault.

NR

-

Not Rated

Wines reviewed but scored below 84 points.

  Value wine
 

Special value


Wines considered to offer special value for money within the context of their glass symbol status. This can apply at any price point, and for consistency a basic algorithm is applied to take into account the price of a wine and the points it is awarded. A value rosette is given, for instance, to $11 wines scoring 85 or more points, $21 wines scoring 90 or more, $35 wines of 95 or more and $200 wines with 98 or more.

 Regional standouts
 

Shortlisted for an award


Nominated by the tasting panel as the best example of this variety/ style in its region.

Where a score indicates a + after the number, it is suggested by the Tasting Team that the wine may well improve with ageing. + is only applicable to wine reviews and scoring.

PD – Where a note is prefixed by ‘PD’ (panel decision), it means that the wine was re-scored by the entire Tasting Team at the annual Halliday Awards judging, where a select shortlist is assessed blind to establish yearly award winners.

The initials DB, JF, JP, KB, ME, MB, PR, SW and TP appearing at the end of a tasting note signify that Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale or Toni Paterson MW tasted the wine and provided the tasting note and rating. Biographies for each member of the Tasting Team and their regions can be found here.