Wine ratings can be very personal - four out of five stars might seem good, but what does it actually mean?

As I've both started moving my old Vivino reviews onto Bluesky and I'm also publishing all my new ones there, I thought I'd clarify the meaning of stars in Dr. H's Wine Rating Scale.

5 ⭐

I will marry this bottle. Where can I get more? I am keeping it for myself. No, you can't have it.

4.5 ⭐

I am stocking this, raving about it, and may or may not hoard it and bring it out mostly when I want to impress people or showcase something great.

4 ⭐

Damn good stuff. The kind of thing you recommend to people as a no-brainer for a region or style. I'm getting a few at once and trying them over months.

3.5 ⭐

Good stuff, but has competition.

3 ⭐

Good, with asterisks. Maybe an average example, or I have to caveat it, or simply not great value.

2.5 ⭐

Decent... as cooking wine.

2 ⭐

How about no?

1.5 ⭐

Why would you pretend this is edible?

1 ⭐

Why would you do this to fruit?

< 1 ⭐

Fuck you. I'm an anarchist, and I'm still calling the cops.