Udostępnij artykuł
„Trybuszon” tasting panels are an essential part of our mission. We want to support readers’ decisions, educate, and point out interesting and unconventional choices. We also want to keep our finger on the pulse of the Polish wine market – both from domestic producers and from foreign ones, available through Polish importers. We often reach for wines unavailable in Poland, hoping they will eventually find importers in Poland.
The tasting panel is chaired by Maciej Sokołowski, a four-time finalist of the Polish Sommelier Championships; each panel consists of at least five tasters. The wines are assessed blind, and the tastings are organized in the form of carefully selected flights. If there is any doubt about a wine’s condition or an obvious fault is detected, a reserve bottle is used (when provided by he supplier). Wines are served at temperatures appropriate to their colour, style and character, following OIV recommendations (Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin). Wines are served in a randomized order, in Riedel Veritas stemware.
Scores on a 10-point scale, awarded to the nearest 0.1 point, are averaged and make up the final score. If a representative of a company importing or producing a wine on the panel is among the jurors, their scores are not taken into account in calculating the final score (after the labels are revealed).
The spirits panels are led by Łukasz Klesyk, a taster with 20 years of experience, who has previously published his reviews in the magazines „Klub Konesera”, „Kuchnia”, „Whisky” and „Ferment”. Tests are conducted in transparent Glencairn and Krosno tasting glasses, at a temperature appropriate for a given spirit (usually „cellar temperature”, which is approximately 15°C). Some distillates (e.g., rum, gin, vodka) are also tested in classic cocktail glasses, of Negroni or Martini type. Spirits are rated on an identical and identically interpreted scale, as described below.
So – what about the 10-Point scale? You have probably noticed the somewhat unusual 10-point rating scale we use in wine analyses and tasting panels. „Unusual” – because it differs from others used in wine competitions and by renowned critics. And it’s true – the 100-point scale is the most commonly used. You’ll find it in „Robert Parker Wine Advocate”, „Wine Spectator”, „Decanter” and Tim Atkin MW, as well as in summaries of trade fairs and competitions. However, we decided to develop and use our own scale. It’s simple, short, and easy to use, and doesn’t contain any unused portions of the scale, certainly not as large as Parker’s „100”, where ratings actually start at 50 points. In Parker terms, our 5 points are worth his 80 points, meaning „a correct, drinkable wine, without flaws, though not very exciting”.
Then, a wine that earned 5.7–6.4 points has a „Parker-esque” 83–85 points, meaning it’s „drinkable, simple, and yet a pleasure to drink”. A wine rated 6.5–7.4 points (86–89 according to Parker) is already „interesting, honest, distinctive, and worthy of praise”. We award 7.5–8.5 points (or 90–94 points according to Parker) to very good, „advanced wines, of a certain complexity and worthy of special recommendation”. Scores of 8.6 and above represent wines of truly world-class quality.
We invite producers and importers to collaborate and contribute to Trybuszon’s ongoing tasting programme. For more information, please contact redakcja@trybuszon.pl.
RATING SCALE
9.4 – 10 An outstanding, phenomenal, one-of-a-kind wine; truly world-class
8.6 – 9.3 An excellent, extraordinary, and unique wine, a benchmark of its style
7.5 – 8.5 A wine worthy of special recommendation
6.5 – 7.4 An interesting wine, worthy of attention and praise
5.7 – 6.4 A drinkable, well-made wine, straightforward, but enjoyable
5.3 – 5.6 A decent, acceptable wine, without fireworks
5.0 – 5.2 A basic, drinkable and acceptable wine, without obvious winemaking flaws
4.9 – 0 A wine we do not recommend due to questionable quality, faults, winemaker errors, or an obvious lack of balance.