There is a great article on
Judging Mead, which outlines just one possible 20 point judging system (as opposed to a 100 point system, etc).
Another discussion talks about this also.
This is my summation of the 20 point system listed in the article:
Appearance or Clarity (2 points)
2 - clear as it should be
1 - slight haze
0 - Totally unclarified or erroneous haze
Aroma and bouquet (5 points)
5 - Superlative - I just want to keep sniffing these complex aromas
4 - Wonderfully complex
3 - Some aging bouquet is identifiable
2 - Has some aroma (maybe a bit young?)
1 - Barely any aroma to speak of
0 - "Off" smell!!
Total acid (2 points)
2 - This is as it should be!
1 - Just lacking a bit
0 - Thin, weak, flat
Sugar (1 point)
1 - This is as it should be!
0 - Incorrect sweetness for the style
Body (2 points)
2 - Fills the mouth
1 - Drinkable but just lacks a bit of body
0 - Thin in the mouth
Flavour and balance (4 points)
4 - Wow, a smorgasboard of flavours, really complex
3 - A few flavours here, none poking out
2 - Single-flavour profile, or slightly unbalanced
1 - No flavour or unbalanced, but drinkable
0 - Undrinkable
Astringency/tannin (1 point)
- 1 Has the correct amount of tannin for the style
- 0 Lacking tannin or too much tannin
General Quality (3 points)
- 3 Excellent
- 2 Good or OK
- 1 Poor (barely drinkable, it has obvious flaws)
- 0 Throw it out now!!
Some examples:
Passable Mead, not outstanding, lacking body, maybe a bit young
Appearance 2
Aroma 2
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 1
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 2
-------------
Total 14
A Solid Mead, has body, just showing some aging bouquet
Appearance 2
Aroma 3
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 2
-------------
Total 16
A really good Mead
Appearance 2
Aroma 4
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 3
-------------
Total 18
A Fantasic Mead
Appearance 2
Aroma 4
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 4
Tannin 1
Quality 3
-------------
Total 19
Judging Mead, which outlines just one possible 20 point judging system (as opposed to a 100 point system, etc).
Another discussion talks about this also.
This is my summation of the 20 point system listed in the article:
Appearance or Clarity (2 points)
2 - clear as it should be
1 - slight haze
0 - Totally unclarified or erroneous haze
Aroma and bouquet (5 points)
5 - Superlative - I just want to keep sniffing these complex aromas
4 - Wonderfully complex
3 - Some aging bouquet is identifiable
2 - Has some aroma (maybe a bit young?)
1 - Barely any aroma to speak of
0 - "Off" smell!!
Total acid (2 points)
2 - This is as it should be!
1 - Just lacking a bit
0 - Thin, weak, flat
Sugar (1 point)
1 - This is as it should be!
0 - Incorrect sweetness for the style
Body (2 points)
2 - Fills the mouth
1 - Drinkable but just lacks a bit of body
0 - Thin in the mouth
Flavour and balance (4 points)
4 - Wow, a smorgasboard of flavours, really complex
3 - A few flavours here, none poking out
2 - Single-flavour profile, or slightly unbalanced
1 - No flavour or unbalanced, but drinkable
0 - Undrinkable
Astringency/tannin (1 point)
- 1 Has the correct amount of tannin for the style
- 0 Lacking tannin or too much tannin
General Quality (3 points)
- 3 Excellent
- 2 Good or OK
- 1 Poor (barely drinkable, it has obvious flaws)
- 0 Throw it out now!!
Some examples:
Passable Mead, not outstanding, lacking body, maybe a bit young
Appearance 2
Aroma 2
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 1
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 2
-------------
Total 14
A Solid Mead, has body, just showing some aging bouquet
Appearance 2
Aroma 3
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 2
-------------
Total 16
A really good Mead
Appearance 2
Aroma 4
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 3
Tannin 1
Quality 3
-------------
Total 18
A Fantasic Mead
Appearance 2
Aroma 4
Acid 2
Sugar 1
Body 2
Flavour 4
Tannin 1
Quality 3
-------------
Total 19
