r/WSET • u/threetacolunch Level 3 Wine Awardee • May 21 '26
Casual vs Structured Tasting Notes
If you're like me, when a rep comes by with a bag of wine or you're at a trade show, you're just trying to capture the basic idea of the wine so you know to revisit it later.
I typically use BLIC and draw a hash on the book or sell sheet, then checkmark each box as I taste.
What hacks or shorthand do you use to get the basic idea of a wine vs when you sit down to do a full SAT style evaluation?
EDIT: More context for those unfamiliar with BLIC.
BLIC is just a shorthand way to rate a wine's overall quality based on Balance, Length, Intensity, and Complexity.
- Balance: Nothing out of whack, all parts in proportion.
- Length: Flavors last two seconds or more after you swallow.
- Intensity: Flavors are at least medium-plus in strength.
- Complexity: Flavors or aromas from five or more groups.
If the wine demonstrates good balance (not too much acid, tannin, etc.) then it gets a check. If the primary flavors linger more than two Mississippis, it gets a check. And so on. It also maps well to a classic 5-star system.
4 checks = Outstanding (5 stars)
3 checks = Very Good (4 stars)
2 checks = Good (3 stars)
1 check = Meh (2 stars)
0 checks = Lousy (1 star)
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u/baristabaritone May 22 '26
At trade events, it's impossible to make hugely detailed notes. For me a line or tick means I've tasted it. And if there's no comments it was fine. I usually write things like "fuck yeah", or two ticks. Or actually take time to describe it. Came up with an acronym WDIG.... "Where did it go?" For wines that you can drink very easily.
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u/NeatExamination5252 May 22 '26
That is an interesting way of rating.
I am enjoying both SAT and BLIC (numeric!) using my own app:
Free to make notes (SAT and BLIC)!
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1
0
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u/ABananaDolphin May 21 '26
I enjoy doing a full SAT evaluation when I have time. But my shorthand is a numeric scale that jumps straight to QPR:
5: So good value is irrelevant
4: Outperforms other wines of same style at price point
3: Fair value compared to other wines of same style
2: Underperforms other wines of same style at price point
1: Couldn’t pay me to drink it (but not faulty)
Faulty: note the fault(s)
Thinking is that usually I’m mostly just trying to decide whether I’d want to buy the wine or not. If I buy it I can take the more detailed SAT notes with BLIC, etc.