Community Tasting Note

• SimonG wrote: 93 points

  May 10, 2013 - La Rioja Alta (La Rioja Alta, Haro, Rioja): Spicy red fruit, some soft oak influence. A roundness here without tending to flab. A density to the fruit too. Lots upfront. Currently a slight hole in the late mid-palate though this fills with air. Long. Spicy acidity. Vibrant. **(**) possibly **(**1/2)

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5 Comments

• Harley1199 commented:

  5/13/13, 1:45 PM - Think that this needs time to soft..

• Sjontoft commented:

  5/14/13, 2:34 AM - Dear Simong,
  
  Thank you for your tasting note. As with many other ones you write it is very good.
  
  I have a suggestion. You use stars (**(**)), which I presume is for the quality.
  
  Would it be possible for you to describe what those mean and possibly put a guide to the star-system in your public profile?
  
  Sjontoft

• SimonG commented:

  5/14/13, 2:38 PM - Sjontoft,
  
  Yes, I use the stars as my rating system (I only add the numbers as CT works on the hundred point scale and it makes searching/sorting easier for me). They are based on the old fashioned five star hotel system although I allow myself the luxury of half stars. I use the same system albeit numerically for unfinished wines.
  
  * I wouldn't buy a bottle but a glass will help down the meal in a simple restaurant
  ** quite decent, would buy a bottle in said restaurant or for home if the price was right
  *** very decent to very good. Bottle to case purchases, everyday to weekend drinking, value may be variable
  **** top wines of their type, can probably only afford for weekend drinking though bargains do exist. The type of wine one looks forward to.
  ***** top of their type and any type. Special occasion / wow wines. I wish I could afford a case but I suspect I can't!
  
  I equate my stars to the hundred point scale thus:
  
  ** 81
  **1/2 85
  *** 86-89
  ***1/2 90
  ****1/2 94
  ***** 95
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  Simon

• SimonG commented:

  5/14/13, 2:41 PM - And as far as the brackets go, the stars indicate my thoughts on absolute quality, but the brackets at the end indicate that it needs time to fully realise the potential. The more stars are in the brackets, the longer required. Brackets at the start indicate a wine that is fading rather than needing time. Eg (*)** is three stars but on decline and **(*) three stars but needs time whereas *(**) is three stars and needing a lot more time.

• Sjontoft commented:

  5/15/13, 3:29 AM - This is super helpful.
  
  If I were you, I would add this little guide to my profile. Just a suggestion. Thanks again for replying and for a good note.
  
  Edit: Which I see you have now done. Thanks again.

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