In the wine world, it’s pretty much agreed that any bottle scoring 90 points or above is a stand-out example of its grape, region or vintage, the kind of wine that makes you pause mid-sip and smile.

The 100-point scale has become the global yardstick for quality over the past few decades. Created in the late 1970s by lawyer-turned-wine-legend Robert Parker and his friend Victor Morgenroth, it first appeared in The Wine Advocate and went on to reshape how the world talks about wine.

So, when you pick up a 90+ point wine, you’re in safe hands; it’s as close to a sure thing as it gets for an exceptional drinking experience.

Just remember: scores are a guide, not gospel. There are countless brilliant wines out there that have never been scored at all, and discovering them is half the fun!

Guide to Scores

• 96–100: Extraordinary, outstanding, or classic examples

• 90–95: Outstanding to exceptional

• 85–89: Good to very good