The scores we trust most.

For Burgundy: Allen Meadows (Burghound), William Kelley (Wine Advocate), Antonio Galloni (Vinous). For Bordeaux: Galloni, Neal Martin, James Suckling. For Champagne: Peter Liem and Antonio Galloni. For Italy: Antonio Galloni, Eric Guido, Monica Larner. The 100-point scale is fundamentally subjective — what matters is whether the critic’s palate aligns with yours.

A 92 from Galloni for a Burgundy means something different than a 92 from Suckling. Reading the same critic across many vintages is more useful than chasing high scores.

Drinking windows.

The “drink 2028-2042” note is the critic’s estimate of when the wine will be in its prime drinking window. The window is not the only time the wine is good — it’s the time the critic thinks the wine will show its full character.

Burgundy 1ers crus typically peak at 8-15 years from vintage. Grands crus at 12-25. Top Bordeaux at 15-30. Vintage Champagne at 10-25 from disgorgement. Barolo at 12-25. Riesling Auslese at 20-50.

A practical rule.

For wines you intend to age, ignore the score and read the drinking window. For wines you’re buying to drink this season, the score is a useful sanity check. For everything in between, the producer matters more than either number.

If a bottle you’re holding is approaching the back end of its window and you haven’t opened it, open it. Aging past peak is the most common mistake collectors make.