diff --git a/backend/stewards/admin.py b/backend/stewards/admin.py
index ed605aa7..50ef2117 100644
--- a/backend/stewards/admin.py
+++ b/backend/stewards/admin.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class StewardPermissionAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
 
 @admin.register(FeatureCandidateScore)
 class FeatureCandidateScoreAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
-    list_display = ('submission', 'steward', 'score', 'created_at', 'updated_at')
+    list_display = ('submission', 'steward', 'score', 'reason_preview', 'created_at', 'updated_at')
     list_filter = ('score', 'created_at', 'updated_at')
     search_fields = (
         'submission__title',
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ class FeatureCandidateScoreAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
     readonly_fields = ('created_at', 'updated_at')
     ordering = ('-updated_at',)
 
+    def reason_preview(self, obj):
+        return obj.reason[:80] + '...' if len(obj.reason) > 80 else obj.reason
+    reason_preview.short_description = 'Reason'
+
 
 @admin.register(ReviewTemplate)
 class ReviewTemplateAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
diff --git a/backend/stewards/migrations/0012_feature_candidate_score_reason.py b/backend/stewards/migrations/0012_feature_candidate_score_reason.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fac39dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/stewards/migrations/0012_feature_candidate_score_reason.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('stewards', '0011_feature_candidate_scoring'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='featurecandidatescore',
+            name='reason',
+            field=models.TextField(blank=True, default='', help_text='Reviewer note explaining what stood out for this score.', max_length=2000),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/backend/stewards/models.py b/backend/stewards/models.py
index c1959241..39b53540 100644
--- a/backend/stewards/models.py
+++ b/backend/stewards/models.py
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ class FeatureCandidateScore(BaseModel):
         validators=[MinValueValidator(0), MaxValueValidator(3)],
         help_text="0 = not interesting, 1 = weak, 2 = good, 3 = strong.",
     )
+    reason = models.TextField(
+        max_length=2000,
+        blank=True,
+        default='',
+        help_text="Reviewer note explaining what stood out for this score.",
+    )
 
     class Meta:
         unique_together = ['submission', 'steward']
diff --git a/backend/stewards/serializers.py b/backend/stewards/serializers.py
index ad974a90..9f55ed63 100644
--- a/backend/stewards/serializers.py
+++ b/backend/stewards/serializers.py
@@ -81,13 +81,18 @@ class FeatureCandidateSubmissionSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
     created_at = serializers.DateTimeField(read_only=True)
     updated_at = serializers.DateTimeField(read_only=True)
     own_score = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    own_score_reason = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     user_details = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     contribution_type_details = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     evidence_items = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
 
     def get_own_score(self, obj):
-        score_map = self.context.get('own_score_map', {})
-        return score_map.get(obj.id)
+        review_map = self.context.get('own_review_map', {})
+        return (review_map.get(obj.id) or {}).get('score')
+
+    def get_own_score_reason(self, obj):
+        review_map = self.context.get('own_review_map', {})
+        return (review_map.get(obj.id) or {}).get('reason') or ''
 
     def get_user_details(self, obj):
         return feature_candidate_user_data(obj.user)
diff --git a/backend/stewards/tests.py b/backend/stewards/tests.py
index b82d10f8..4c682833 100644
--- a/backend/stewards/tests.py
+++ b/backend/stewards/tests.py
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ def test_reviewer_list_is_blind_and_only_includes_interesting_accepted_projects(
         self.assertEqual(row['state'], 'accepted')
         self.assertEqual(row['contribution_type_details']['slug'], 'projects')
         self.assertIsNone(row['own_score'])
+        self.assertEqual(row['own_score_reason'], '')
         self.assertNotIn('id', row['user_details'])
         self.assertEqual(row['user_details']['address'], self.submitter.address)
         self.assertEqual(row['user_details']['github_connection'], {'platform_username': 'submitter-gh'})
@@ -220,21 +221,29 @@ def test_reviewer_can_create_and_edit_own_score(self):
 
         create_response = self.client.post(
             f'/api/v1/stewards/feature-reviews/{self.submission.id}/score/',
-            {'score': 2},
+            {'score': 2, 'reason': 'Strong ecosystem fit, but the demo needs polish.'},
         )
         edit_response = self.client.post(
             f'/api/v1/stewards/feature-reviews/{self.submission.id}/score/',
-            {'score': 3},
+            {'score': 3, 'reason': 'The contract design and working demo stood out.'},
         )
 
         self.assertEqual(create_response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertEqual(create_response.data['reason'], 'Strong ecosystem fit, but the demo needs polish.')
         self.assertEqual(edit_response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         scores = FeatureCandidateScore.objects.filter(
             submission=self.submission,
             steward=self.reviewer_steward,
         )
         self.assertEqual(scores.count(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(scores.get().score, 3)
+        score = scores.get()
+        self.assertEqual(score.score, 3)
+        self.assertEqual(score.reason, 'The contract design and working demo stood out.')
+
+        list_response = self.client.get('/api/v1/stewards/feature-reviews/')
+        row = list_response.data['results'][0]
+        self.assertEqual(row['own_score'], 3)
+        self.assertEqual(row['own_score_reason'], 'The contract design and working demo stood out.')
 
     def test_unpermitted_steward_cannot_score(self):
         self.client.force_authenticate(user=self.denied_user)
@@ -264,6 +273,15 @@ def test_reviewer_score_validation_rejects_invalid_values(self):
                 self.assertIn('score', response.data)
                 self.assertFalse(FeatureCandidateScore.objects.exists())
 
+        response = self.client.post(
+            url,
+            {'score': 2, 'reason': 'x' * 2001},
+            format='json',
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+        self.assertIn('reason', response.data)
+        self.assertFalse(FeatureCandidateScore.objects.exists())
+
     def test_staff_admin_sees_aggregates_and_manual_review_flag(self):
         second_user = User.objects.create_user(
             email='second-reviewer@example.com',
diff --git a/backend/stewards/views.py b/backend/stewards/views.py
index 02897537..1f389fc8 100644
--- a/backend/stewards/views.py
+++ b/backend/stewards/views.py
@@ -69,17 +69,21 @@ def _interesting_queryset(self, include_scores=False):
             queryset = queryset.prefetch_related('feature_candidate_scores')
         return queryset
 
-    def _own_score_map(self, request):
+    def _own_review_map(self, request):
         if not hasattr(request.user, 'steward'):
             return {}
-        return dict(
-            FeatureCandidateScore.objects.filter(
+        return {
+            review['submission_id']: {
+                'score': review['score'],
+                'reason': review['reason'] or '',
+            }
+            for review in FeatureCandidateScore.objects.filter(
                 steward=request.user.steward,
                 submission__is_interesting=True,
                 submission__state='accepted',
                 submission__contribution_type__slug='projects',
-            ).values_list('submission_id', 'score')
-        )
+            ).values('submission_id', 'score', 'reason')
+        }
 
     def _summary_map(self, submissions):
         result = {}
@@ -106,13 +110,13 @@ def list(self, request):
             )
 
         submissions = list(self._interesting_queryset())
-        own_score_map = self._own_score_map(request)
+        own_review_map = self._own_review_map(request)
         serializer = FeatureCandidateSubmissionSerializer(
             submissions,
             many=True,
-            context={'own_score_map': own_score_map},
+            context={'own_review_map': own_review_map},
         )
-        scored_count = sum(1 for submission in submissions if submission.id in own_score_map)
+        scored_count = sum(1 for submission in submissions if submission.id in own_review_map)
         return Response({
             'results': serializer.data,
             'progress': {
@@ -129,21 +133,35 @@ def score(self, request, pk=None):
                 status=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
             )
 
+        errors = {}
         try:
             score = serializers.IntegerField(min_value=0, max_value=3).run_validation(
                 request.data.get('score')
             )
         except serializers.ValidationError as exc:
-            return Response({'score': exc.detail}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+            errors['score'] = exc.detail
+
+        try:
+            reason = serializers.CharField(
+                required=False,
+                allow_blank=True,
+                trim_whitespace=True,
+                max_length=2000,
+            ).run_validation(request.data.get('reason', ''))
+        except serializers.ValidationError as exc:
+            errors['reason'] = exc.detail
+
+        if errors:
+            return Response(errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
 
         submission = get_object_or_404(self._interesting_queryset(), pk=pk)
         FeatureCandidateScore.objects.update_or_create(
             submission=submission,
             steward=request.user.steward,
-            defaults={'score': score},
+            defaults={'score': score, 'reason': reason},
         )
 
-        return Response({'submission': str(submission.id), 'score': score})
+        return Response({'submission': str(submission.id), 'score': score, 'reason': reason})
 
     @action(detail=False, methods=['get'], url_path='admin')
     def admin(self, request):
@@ -154,7 +172,7 @@ def admin(self, request):
             )
 
         submissions = list(self._interesting_queryset(include_scores=True))
-        own_score_map = self._own_score_map(request)
+        own_review_map = self._own_review_map(request)
         summary_map = self._summary_map(submissions)
         submissions.sort(
             key=lambda submission: (
@@ -168,7 +186,7 @@ def admin(self, request):
         serializer = FeatureCandidateAdminSerializer(
             submissions,
             many=True,
-            context={'own_score_map': own_score_map, 'summary_map': summary_map},
+            context={'own_review_map': own_review_map, 'summary_map': summary_map},
         )
         return Response({'results': serializer.data})
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.js b/frontend/src/lib/api.js
index e0b60ce7..075065a4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.js
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.js
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ export const stewardAPI = {
   // Feature candidate scoring
   getFeatureReviewAccess: () => api.get('/stewards/feature-reviews/access/'),
   getFeatureReviewCandidates: () => api.get('/stewards/feature-reviews/'),
-  scoreFeatureReviewCandidate: (id, score) => api.post(`/stewards/feature-reviews/${id}/score/`, { score }),
+  scoreFeatureReviewCandidate: (id, score, reason = '') => api.post(`/stewards/feature-reviews/${id}/score/`, { score, reason }),
   getFeatureReviewAdmin: () => api.get('/stewards/feature-reviews/admin/')
 };
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/StewardFeatureReviews.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/StewardFeatureReviews.svelte
index 4a419bc5..8762a585 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/StewardFeatureReviews.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/StewardFeatureReviews.svelte
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
   let activeTab = $state('review');
   let reviewFilterTab = $state('not_scored');
   let saving = $state(new Set());
+  let scoreDrafts = $state({});
   let expandedTitles = $state(new Set());
   let expandedDescriptions = $state(new Set());
   let expandedAdminRows = $state(new Set());
@@ -116,6 +117,15 @@
     const response = await stewardAPI.getFeatureReviewCandidates();
     candidates = response.data?.results || [];
     progress = response.data?.progress || { scored: 0, total: candidates.length };
+    scoreDrafts = Object.fromEntries(
+      candidates.map(candidate => [
+        candidate.id,
+        {
+          score: candidate.own_score,
+          reason: candidate.own_score_reason || '',
+        },
+      ])
+    );
   }
 
   async function loadAdminRows() {
@@ -138,21 +148,64 @@
     }
   }
 
-  async function scoreCandidate(candidate, score) {
+  function draftFor(candidate) {
+    return scoreDrafts[candidate.id] || {
+      score: candidate.own_score,
+      reason: candidate.own_score_reason || '',
+    };
+  }
+
+  function draftScore(candidate) {
+    return draftFor(candidate).score;
+  }
+
+  function draftReason(candidate) {
+    return draftFor(candidate).reason || '';
+  }
+
+  function updateScoreDraft(candidate, patch) {
+    scoreDrafts = {
+      ...scoreDrafts,
+      [candidate.id]: {
+        ...draftFor(candidate),
+        ...patch,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  async function scoreCandidate(candidate) {
+    const draft = draftFor(candidate);
+    if (!Number.isInteger(draft.score)) {
+      showError('Select a score before saving.');
+      return;
+    }
+
     saving.add(candidate.id);
     saving = new Set(saving);
     try {
-      await stewardAPI.scoreFeatureReviewCandidate(candidate.id, score);
+      const response = await stewardAPI.scoreFeatureReviewCandidate(
+        candidate.id,
+        draft.score,
+        draft.reason || ''
+      );
+      const savedReason = response.data?.reason ?? draft.reason ?? '';
       const wasUnscored = candidate.own_score === null || candidate.own_score === undefined;
       candidates = candidates.map(item =>
-        item.id === candidate.id ? { ...item, own_score: score } : item
+        item.id === candidate.id
+          ? { ...item, own_score: draft.score, own_score_reason: savedReason }
+          : item
       );
+      updateScoreDraft(candidate, { score: draft.score, reason: savedReason });
       if (wasUnscored) {
         progress = { ...progress, scored: progress.scored + 1 };
       }
       showSuccess('Score saved');
     } catch (err) {
-      showError(err.response?.data?.detail || err.response?.data?.score || 'Failed to save score.');
+      const apiError = err.response?.data;
+      const scoreError = Array.isArray(apiError?.score) ? apiError.score[0] : apiError?.score;
+      const reasonError = Array.isArray(apiError?.reason) ? apiError.reason[0] : apiError?.reason;
+      const message = apiError?.detail || scoreError || reasonError || 'Failed to save score.';
+      showError(typeof message === 'string' ? message : 'Failed to save score.');
     } finally {
       saving.delete(candidate.id);
       saving = new Set(saving);
@@ -308,12 +361,12 @@
   }
 
   function scoreButtonClass(candidate, option) {
-    if (candidate.own_score === option.value) return option.selectedClass;
+    if (draftScore(candidate) === option.value) return option.selectedClass;
     return `${option.guideClass} hover:border-[#19A663] hover:bg-white hover:text-gray-950`;
   }
 
   function scoreNumberClass(candidate, option) {
-    if (candidate.own_score === option.value) return 'bg-white/20 text-current';
+    if (draftScore(candidate) === option.value) return 'bg-white/20 text-current';
     return option.numberClass;
   }
 
@@ -564,12 +617,12 @@
                     {/if}
                   </div>
 
-                  <div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-2">
+                  <div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-3">
                     {#each scoreOptions as option}
                       <button
                         type="button"
                         disabled={saving.has(candidate.id)}
-                        onclick={() => scoreCandidate(candidate, option.value)}
+                        onclick={() => updateScoreDraft(candidate, { score: option.value })}
                         title={`${option.value} - ${option.label}`}
                         aria-label={`Score ${option.value} - ${option.label}`}
                         class="flex min-h-16 items-center justify-start gap-3 rounded-md border px-3 py-2 text-left text-xs font-semibold transition-colors active:scale-[0.96] disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60 {scoreButtonClass(candidate, option)}"
@@ -580,6 +633,25 @@
                         <span class="leading-tight">{option.label}</span>
                       </button>
                     {/each}
+                    <label class="block">
+                      <span class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-gray-500">Reason</span>
+                      <textarea
+                        value={draftReason(candidate)}
+                        oninput={(event) => updateScoreDraft(candidate, { reason: event.currentTarget.value })}
+                        maxlength="2000"
+                        rows="4"
+                        placeholder="What stood out in this project for the score?"
+                        class="mt-2 min-h-28 w-full resize-y rounded-md border border-gray-200 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm leading-5 text-gray-800 shadow-sm outline-none transition-colors placeholder:text-gray-400 focus:border-[#19A663] focus:ring-2 focus:ring-emerald-100"
+                      ></textarea>
+                    </label>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      disabled={saving.has(candidate.id) || !Number.isInteger(draftScore(candidate))}
+                      onclick={() => scoreCandidate(candidate)}
+                      class="inline-flex min-h-11 items-center justify-center rounded-md bg-[#19A663] px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white shadow-sm transition-colors hover:bg-[#137f4c] disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:bg-gray-300"
+                    >
+                      {saving.has(candidate.id) ? 'Saving...' : 'Save opinion'}
+                    </button>
                   </div>
             </article>
 	          {/each}