How to Score

APPEARANCE   3 - Excellent                - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.   2 - Good                      - Clear with characteristic color.   1 - Poor                        - Slight haze and/or slight off color.   0 - Objectionable       - Cloudy and/or off color.   AROMA AND BOUQUET   6 - Extraordinary       - Unmistakable characteristic aroma of grape-variety or wine-                                             type.  Outstanding and complex bouquet.  Exceptional balance                                             of aroma and bouquet.   5 - Excellent                - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet.  Well balanced.   4 - Good                      - Characteristic aroma.  Distinguishable bouquet.   3 - Acceptable            - Slight aroma and bouquet.  Pleasant.   2 - Deficient                - No perceptible aroma or bouquet or with slight off odors.   1 - Poor                        - Off odors.   0 - Objectionable       - Objectionable or offensive odors.   TASTE AND TEXTURE   6 - Extraordinary       - Unmistakable characteristic flavor of grape-variety or wine-                                             type.  Extraordinary balance.  Smooth, full-bodied and                                             overwhelming.   5 - Excellent                - All of the above but a little less.  Excellent but not                                             overwhelming.   4 - Good                      - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor.  Good                                             balance.  Smooth.  May have minor imperfections.   3 - Acceptable            - Undistinguished wine but pleasant. May have minor off flavors.                                            May be slightly out of balance, and/or somewhat thin or rough.   2 - Deficient                - Undistinguished wine with more pronounced faults than above.   1 - Poor                        - Disagreeable flavors, poorly balanced, and/or unpleasant                                             texture.   0 - Objectionable       - Objectionable or offensive flavors and/or texture.   AFTERTASTE   3 - Excellent                - Lingering outstanding aftertaste.   2 - Good                      - Pleasant aftertaste.   1 - Poor                        - Little or no distinguishable aftertaste.   0 - Objectionable       - Unpleasant aftertaste. OVERALL IMPRESSION                                       TOTAL SCORES         2 - Excellent                                                                18  -  20         Extraordinary   1 - Good                                                                      15  -  17 Excellent   0 - Poor                                                                        12  -  14         Good                                                                                                        9  -  11 Commercially Acceptable                                                                                           6  -    8 Deficient                                                                                           0  -    5  Poor and Objectionable

The American Wine Society is a national non-profit consumer organization which is dedicated to educating its members and the general public about wine appreciation, production and use.  The society is an independent organization with no commercial affiliation.  The society has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  Membership is open to anyone interested in wine - amateur, enthusiast or professional.  For further information contact:         AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY                                                                   113 South Perry Street                                                               Lawrenceville, GA  30045 PHONE  678-377-7005                                                    info@americanwinesociety.org