A recent study by Cornell University's Research Center for the Hospitality Industry found that the existing classification of Bordeaux wines, developed in 1855, is outdated. According to the authors, fine wine consumers can rely on the three main wine rating systems — Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and Wine Spectator — in which they found overall congruence between the ratings of these three services in 339 vineyard and château combinations examined. However, the study warns, consumers should not consider all wines with the same rating to be of equal quality when it comes from different tasters. In addition, Bordeaux's classifications for châteaux are not entirely reliable, as it has not changed since its creation in 1855, during which time many châteaux have risen in rank and others have disappeared. Freely accessible in http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/reports/2008.html , the study is entitled: "An Analysis of Bordeaux Wine Ratings, 1970-2005: Implications for the Existing Classification of the Médoc and Graves".
