Wine critics have scored bottles on a 100-point scale for decades, and Wine Spectator publishes exactly what each score band means. Cognac had no equivalent. When I searched the literature and the internet for a shared cognac scoring guide, I found none. So I developed one for Cognac Nation.
The cognac rating system below keeps the familiar 100-point format. It adds one thing I could not find elsewhere: typical score ranges for each cognac age grade. Reviewers get a common language, and readers get a way to interpret any score they see.
How cognac ratings work on Cognac Nation
Every review on Cognac Nation carries an overall cognac rating from 1 to 100. The score answers one question: how good is this cognac in the glass, judged against what it sets out to be? Price, brand fame and rarity play no part in it.
Reviewers also write tasting notes for aroma, taste and finish. The number sums up those impressions in a single figure that other members can compare at a glance.
The 100-point cognac rating scale
The table shows what each range means. Wine Spectator, for example, calls 90-94 "Outstanding" and 95-100 "Classic". The Cognac Nation scale follows the same logic and keeps its top band for the rarest bottles.
| Score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 95-100 | Legendary | A benchmark cognac you remember for years. Extremely rare, and only realistic for XO age and older. |
| 90-94 | Outstanding | Complex and balanced, with a long finish. Worth seeking out. |
| 85-89 | Excellent | Very high quality with real character and almost no weak points. |
| 80-84 | Very Good | A well-made cognac that is a pleasure to drink. |
| 75-79 | Good | Decent, but without a wow factor. Some weaknesses are noticeable. |
| 70-74 | Average | Unremarkable. Fine for cocktails or cooking. |
| Below 70 | Below Average | Unbalanced or flawed. Not recommended. |
Expect most cognacs to land between 75 and 90. That is normal. The extremes of the scale are meant to be rare. A reviewer who hands out 95s freely makes every score less useful to readers.
What score to expect for each cognac grade
Cognac is sold in age grades (see our guide to VS, VSOP and XO), and the grade sets expectations. According to the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), the youngest eau-de-vie in a VS (Very Special) is at least 2 years old. In a VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) it is at least 4, and in an XO (Extra Old) at least 10. Napoleon sits between VSOP and XO. Hors d'Âge, Extra, Réserve and Vintage bottlings are older or special expressions.
| Grade | Typical score range |
|---|---|
| VS | 70-82 |
| VSOP | 74-85 |
| Napoleon | 75-86 |
| XO | 80-92 |
| Réserve, Hors d'Âge, Extra, Vintage | 82-95 |
These ranges show where most bottles land. A remarkable VS can beat an average XO, and a disappointing XO can drop below a good VSOP. Scores of 95 and above are reserved for exceptional cognacs of XO age or older.
The logic is simple. A young VS is built to be fresh and easy to drink, so it earns its score on how well it does that. Nobody expects it to match the depth of a twenty-year-old cognac.
Why a 100 for a VSOP or a 35 for a good bottle does not work
A VSOP scored 100 claims to be as good as cognac gets. Almost no bottle earns that, and a young blend never does. Such a score tells other readers only that the rating cannot be trusted.
The bottom of the scale works the same way. A score near 35 describes a spoiled, oxidized or clearly flawed bottle.
Your personal taste should stay out of the score. If you dislike certain notes, that says nothing about the quality of the cognac. If you love orange, a VS with an orange note still does not earn 100. Rate the craft in the glass, and describe your preferences in your tasting notes.
How to rate a cognac step by step
A score is easier to defend when it grows out of tasting notes. Write the notes first and choose the number last.
- Look. Note the color and how the cognac coats the glass. Color is the least reliable clue to quality.
- Nose. Describe what you actually smell: fruit, flowers, spice, oak, vanilla, dried apricot, old wood. Specific cognac tasting notes help other readers far more than "smooth" or "nice".
- Palate. Judge texture, sweetness, and the balance between fruit, oak and alcohol.
- Finish. How long does the flavor last, and does it stay pleasant to the end?
- Overall. Ask how well the parts fit together and whether you would pour it again.
Use a tulip-shaped glass, room temperature and unhurried sips. Our guide on how to drink cognac covers glassware and serving in detail.
Tips for fair scoring
- Rate the cognac in your glass, without the label or the price tag in mind.
- Leave your favorite and least favorite notes out of the score. Record them in your tasting notes instead.
- Compare your score with the typical range for the grade.
- If you doubt a score, taste the cognac again on another day.
- Use the whole scale honestly, and keep 95+ for truly exceptional bottles.
Ready to try it? Find your bottle on Cognac Nation, taste it, and post your score with your tasting notes. Browse the full cognac catalog to pick your next bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good cognac score?
A score of 85 or higher is excellent, and 90 or higher is outstanding. Scores between 75 and 84 mark good to very good cognacs, which is where many bottles land.
Is 80 a good score for a VSOP?
Yes. The typical range for a VSOP is 74-85, so 80 points to a solid, well-made bottle.
Can a VS score 90?
It is very unlikely. VS cognacs usually score 70-82, and scores of 95 and above are reserved for XO age and older.
Does price affect a cognac rating?
No. The score reflects quality in the glass. A modest cognac that does its job well can outscore an expensive one that disappoints.
Should my personal taste affect the score?
No. A cognac with notes you dislike can still be excellent, and a bottle with your favorite note can still be average. Describe your preferences in your tasting notes and score the quality.
What does a score of 90 mean?
A 90 marks an outstanding cognac: complex and balanced, with a long finish, and worth seeking out.
Who created the Cognac Nation rating system?
I did. I am Vitaly Sadovsky, founder of Cognac Nation, and I developed it after finding no shared scoring guide for cognac in the literature or on the internet.