Is There Consensus Among Wine Quality Ratings of Prominent Critics? An Empirical Analysis of Red Bordeaux, 2004–2010

Abstract

AbstractThis paper examines the level of consensus, or agreement, among the wine quality ratings of six prominent wine critics for seven consecutive vintages of red Bordeaux. Consensus, a critical component of expertise in wine evaluation, has important implications for consumers' reliance on critics' ratings in deciding which wines to purchase or consume. The principal analyses focus on a core set of wines in each year that were rated by all six critics. Additional analyses concern differences in agreement for classified growths vs. nonclassified growths and for critics of different nationalities (American, British, and French). The level of consensus among these prominent critics is contrasted with that among both wine professionals who are not prominent critics and professionals from several other fields. (JEL Classification: C93)