Wine labels have to meet a delicate balance of providing important consumer information without seeming too overwhelming or confusing. In addition to all of the less concrete, unspecified signifiers this blog has mentioned in the past, like imagery and descriptive language, there are other elements that may not actually be useful in describing wine or getting consumers to make a purchase.
The Wall Street Journal recently examined the function of scoring a vintage, as in the system supposedly developed by Robert Parker, based on various aspects and characteristics. On its surface, this seems like a relatively equivocal way to measure wine value, and Parker himself told the source that this system was intended to be “the ultimate accountability” for winemakers and their brands.
However, as the source asserts, the numbers can confuse more than they help, especially for those who aren’t interested in the bouquet or palette. Writing for the Money section of TIME, Katy Osborn referenced some of the more modern ways that fans might drift away from this system in favor of something more tied to their taste.
“Since it’s problematic to rely on wine scores and critic reviews and ratings, what’s the wine picking way of the future?” she asks. “Wine drinkers might increasingly look to recommendations from the ‘social sommelier,’ and, especially as winemakers look to draw in younger, quirkier crowds, personal taste.”
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