Wine ratings

Internationally used is a 100 point scale, that starts with 50 points. A 50 point wine tastes like water or worse, a 100 point wine like heaven. The use of the scale is different. The German based critics Gault Millau, Eichelmann and Wein Plus tend to rate much less than 1% of the wines with more than 95 points. The international ratings from Robert Parker and Wine Spectatore are more generous. Parker rates one third of wines and Wine Spectator one fourth of wines with 90 points and above. The following description is taken from Gault Millau:

• 100: A perfect wine that justifies virtually any price.
• 95-99: Outstanding wines from exceptional vintages with long maturation potential. Such rare wines can command a high price.
• 90-94: Excellent quality wines with a considerable maturation potential. They are very rarely inexpensive.
• 85-89: Very good, harmonius wines that generally also mature well. This category often provides the best value for money.
• 80-84: Good quality, well above average. There are some bargains to be had in this category.
• 75-79: Average quality for everyday consumption.

Winemaker ratings

Not only the wines, but also a estates in general are rated by Gault Millau, Eichelmann and Wein Plus. The rating here is 1-5 stars or grapes. Please note, that even one star or grape is much better than avarage. The authors of Gault Millau base their verdict on the quality of wines produced over the past five to ten years. Extra wight is given to current developments and trends. Eichelmann and Wein Plus only take the past three vintages under consideration.

• 5 grapes: Highest rating, for world-class wine producers (currently given to 10 winemakers by Gault Millau and Wein Plus and to 29 winemakers by Eichelmann)
• 4 grapes: Excellent producer counted as among the best in Germany
• 3 grapes: Very good producer who have been making consistently high quality wines for many years
• 2 grapes: Good producer who do better than make just everyday wines
• 1 grape: Reliable producer making decent standard quality wines

Gault Millau

The "Gault Millau - Guide to German Wines" claims to be the "Bible of German Wine". It's now published in the 14th edition and also available in English. Over 800 top producers and 6,800 wines are rated. Gault Millau in general is an very important restaurant and wine guide in France, Germany and other european countries. Even mentioned by the Gault Millau means to do much better than avarage.

In Germany there are currently only 10 wine makers who earned 5 grapes. Four of them you will find at Magma: Reinhold Haart, Fritz Haag, Emrich-Schönleber and Keller. Keller is also named the "Producer of the Decade".

There are several awards earned by Magma's suppliers:
Producer of the Year, earned by Reinhold Haart 2007, Emrich-Schönleber 2006, Keller 2000, Fritz Haag 1994
Rising star of the Year, earned by Friedrich Becker 2006, Wittmann 2001, Jean Stodden 2000, Markus Molitor 1999
and so many awards for individual wines, we cannot name here. Just to mention Friedrich Becker, who had the Red Wine of the Year four times in a row (2001-2004).

The Gault Millau rating is very strict. So far only some TBA and Eisweins reached the highest highs of 100 points. The very best dry and semi-dry wines each year are usually rated within 90 to 94 points. Any wine with 80 and more points is above average.

Eichelmann

Gerhard Eichelmann is the author of the other definitive book about German wines. The "Eichelmann - Deutschlands Weine" is independently published and currently includes ratings of 944 producers and 9756 wines. The producer ratings are based on the quality over the past three years.

Currently six of Magma's suppliers are awarded 5-stars: Bercher, Markus Molitor, Emrich-Schönleber, Keller, Reinhold Haart (4.5) and Wittmann. The rating is stikt, compared to Parker and Wine Spectator. Wines with less than 90 points are very close to the top. Beside the rating Eichelmann gives a description of the taste for each wine.

Wein-Plus

Wein-Plus.com is the leading internet site for German wine. It also includes wines from 25 other countries. For Germany there are about 40,000 wines from more than 2,000 wine makers.

In Germany there are currently only 10 wine makers who earned 5 grapes by Wein-Plus. Four of them you will find at Magma: Markus Molitor, Emrich-Schönleber, Keller and Wittmann.

Every year the award "Range of the Year" is given to the best wine maker of each German wine region. If there is no outstanding range in one region the title is not awarded (currently 10 of 13 regions). Magma's supplier Keller (Rheinhessen) received the award four times in a row, from 2004 to 2007. Jean Stodden (Ahr) toped the score three times (2002, 2005, 2006). Markus Molitor (Mosel, 2003+2007) and Wittmann (Rheinhessen 2002 + 2003) were awarde twice. One award was given to Bercher (Baden) 2006 and Emrich-Schönleber (Nahe) 2004.

Wines are rated according to the international 100-point system. Starting from 50 points, the overall rating consists of the following individual assessments: Appearance (5 points), Nose (15 points), Palate (25 points), overall impression and potential (5 points). The rating by Wein-Plus is very strict with less than 1% of all wines 95 and above and only 4% are rated 90 and above. 80 is still better then average.

Robert Parker

Robert Parker is said to be the most influential wine critic in the world. This is true mainly for France and California. But out of 80,000 wines listed on eRobertParker.com there are only 2,700 from Germany. This database mainly includes sweet Rieslings. Nine of our suppliers are recognised by Parker, these are: Emrich-Schönleber, Reinhold Haart, Keller, Markus Molitor, Florian Weingart, Fritz Haag, Bassermann-Jordan, Schloss Lieser and Wittmann.
Robert Parker uses the 100-point scale for wines but do not give an overall rating for the winery. The rating is relatively generous: one third of all wines are rated 90 and above. 96% of the wines are rated 80 and above.

Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazin founded 1976. Its online database includes more than 172,000 wines, of which 7,000 are from Germany - almost exclusively Rieslings. Ten of our suppliers are listed here, these are: Emrich-Schönleber, Reinhold Haart, Keller, Markus Molitor, Florian Weingart, Fritz Haag, Bassermann-Jordan, Schloss Lieser, Wittmann and Prinz von Hessen.
The rating is relatively generous: one third of the wines are rated 90 and above, more than 90% are rated 80 and above.

© Magma Trade+Consult Pte Ltd * ACRA/GST No. 200102210R
CR No. 72210010000H * Chairman: Leonardo G. Noto