How to Choose the Right Pinot Noir – Part 1: Trust the Scores & Awards
When shopping for Pinot Noir, it’s easy to be drawn to labels showing “93 Points” or “Gold Medal Winner.” But what do these scores and awards really mean? Can you trust them?
This guide will walk you through how expert ratings and wine competitions can help you choose the right Pinot Noir—whether you're buying for dinner, gifting, or just treating yourself.
🍷 1. Who’s Scoring the Wine?
Let’s look at the most trusted wine critics and rating systems in Australia and beyond:
James Halliday Wine Companion (Australia’s authority)
- Scores range from 70 to 100.
- 94+ = Highly Recommended, 95+ = Gold-tier wine.
- Especially reliable for Australian Pinot Noir.
James Suckling (International credibility)
- Globally respected wine critic who often highlights wines with bright, pure fruit flavours and a clean, elegant style.
- 90+ = Excellent, 93+ = Outstanding.
Winepilot (Australia’s new voice)
- Features boutique wineries often overlooked elsewhere.
- Trusted for balanced, thoughtful notes on Australian Pinot Noir.
- We use Winepilot scores directly on FinePinot product pages as a trust badge.
Wine Show Awards
- Wines are blind-tasted by panels of experts.
- Medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are awarded purely on merit, without branding influence.
- Especially useful for identifying hidden gems.
🏅 2. Top Australian Wine Competitions to Watch
If you want to go deeper, these are the most influential wine shows in Australia:
-
Australian Pinot Noir Challenge (APNC) – A national competition focused entirely on Pinot Noir. Wines are judged by region, with top-scoring wines awarded medals.
Visit APNC -
Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA) – One of the most prestigious wine shows in the country. Pinot Noir is a major category.
Visit RMWA -
National Wine Show of Australia – Only medal-winning wines from state-level competitions can enter—truly the “best of the best.”
Visit National Wine Show - Regional Wine Shows – (e.g. Tasmania, Adelaide Hills, Western Australia) These shows often spotlight boutique producers and help identify rising stars.
✅ 3. Are High Scores Always Worth It?
Not necessarily. A high score doesn’t always mean the wine is expensive—or the best for your taste.
What to look for:
- Scores above 93 are a strong indicator of quality and consistency.
- Compare notes across different reviewers to avoid personal bias.
- Read the tasting note, not just the number.
🔍 4. How FinePinot Uses Ratings to Help You Choose
We include score badges right on each product page so you can shop with confidence:
- 🟤 “93 Points – Winepilot Recommended”
- 🟡 “Gold Medal – APNC Winner”
- 🔵 “95 Points – Halliday Editors’ Choice”
These badges are verified and sourced directly from each reviewer.
🍷 5. Top Rated Pinot Noir Picks You Can Try Now
| Rating | Wine | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐️ 96 pts (Halliday) | Two Paddocks The Last Chance Pinot Noir 2021 | Structured, age-worthy | $109.99 |
| ⭐️ 95 pts (Halliday) | Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2024 | Juicy, crowd-pleasing | $34.99 $45.00 |
| 🏅 95 pts (Halliday) | Montalto Estate Pinot Noir | Elegant and earthy, red cherry & spice | $55.99 $64.99 |
*Click the wine name to view product page.
🚀 Ready to Try a Top-Rated Pinot?
We’ve curated over 50 Pinot Noirs from Australia and New Zealand that score 90+ points. Explore the full collection now at FinePinot.com.au — and find your perfect Pinot.
🍷 Discover Our Top Rated Pinot Noirs
Ready to taste the scores? Shop these expert-rated favorites directly from our store.
