About the James Suckling Rating System

James Suckling (66): Leading critic, CEO JamesSuckling.com (HK). Rated ~250K wines. 18K+ last year, ~25K expected. 150K+ ratings online, 2K+ new monthly. Respected globally.

How James Suckling Rates

"About the Tastings
All tastings reported on JamesSuckling.com are conducted blind. Wines are evaluated in peer-group flights, typically ranging from 5 to 8 samples. Reviewers may have general context—such as vintage, variety, or appellation—but never the producer or price. When possible, wines that appear flawed or uncharacteristic are re-tasted for confirmation.

About the Scores
Wines scoring below 88 points are not recommended.

98-100
Classic
An exceptional wine at the pinnacle of quality.

95-97
Superb
A must-buy, representing a great achievement in winemaking.

90-94
Excellent
Highly recommended; a wine of outstanding character.

88-89
Very Good
A solid, well-made wine with notable qualities.

Below 88
Not Recommended
Approach with caution; purchase is not advised."

Wines Rated By James Suckling

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James Suckling History

JamesSuckling.com represents forty years of wine journalism and criticism, offering tasting notes, videos, blogs, and events focused on premier wine regions like Italy, Bordeaux, and California. With 25 global employees, including nine editors/tasters based in Hong Kong, the platform rated over 42,000 wines in 2024.

The site aims to provide a deeper understanding of wine beyond simple reviews, emphasizing the importance of visually experiencing the origins, people, and evaluation process. James Suckling believes modern wine drinkers need more than just a score.

Monthly tastings involve thousands of wines, with blind tastings for organized evaluations. Young wines are assessed for immediate pleasure and aging potential, adhering to the principle that quality wines improve over time. Mature wines are judged primarily on their current drinkability. The editorial team follows consistent reviewing criteria, maintaining a standardized approach to wine evaluation. This comprehensive approach aims to give a full picture of the world's best wines.

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