In article > , nobody@nowhere.
com says...
>
>Some reviewers seem to be pretty consistent with their ratings, until they
>review one of the "TOP" rated wines. Then their numbers change
>significantly. Are they tasting blind? Why do they hand out a 100 rating to
>a wine they've also rated 85? Numbers go up & down, so it's not like the
>wine is improving with time. And if individuals tastings can vary greatly,
>why wouldn't 2nd & 3rd growth Bordeaux's fluctuate as wildly as first
>growths? (I never see a smaller player "accidentally" receive a 100, whereas
>a significant one can score in the 80's until someone realizes what they've
>done and "corrects" it).
>
>My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that at least the "JS" guy tastes
>blind, but if he realizes that he's tasting a wine that is *supposed to* get
>a high score, he will then "revise" that number. If so, why? Does he not
>want to look like a fool by giving an '82 Mouton a low score? Or is there
>some marketing pressure for a high score?
>
>Just something I sometimes wonder about while lying awake late at night....
>
>\/
>
>WS Scores for 1982 Mouton-Rothschild
>
>Review: Jun, 1986; Sco 85
>Review: May, 1991; Sco 93 (PM)
>Review: Aug, 1992; Sco 95 (JS)
>Review: Jul, 1997; Sco 100 (PM)
>Review: Nov, 1998; Sco 98 (JS)
>Review: Jun, 2001; Sco 98 (JS)

With the cited instance, I'd speculate that the scores reflected the tastings
done at the time. Picking a very young wine and devining its ability to mature
into a great one over time, is akin to alchemy. Some have an uncanny ability
to delve into the future, but I doubt most do, even amongst professional
tasters. Bottle variation, and many other aspects along the road to maturity
can effect the wine too.

With the extreme pressure to rate the wines, without benefit of marketing,
advertising $'s, or even public opinion, I'd side with the WS tasters to do
the best that they can. I may be wrong in this assessment of their situation,
but I think that a scandal within their publication would totally undermine
their advertising revenue.

All stated IMHO,
Hunt