Article: Robert Parker retires from The Wine Advocate

[Matt@5453]

[url]https://www.wbmonline.com.au/robert-parker-r ... N1QT_QByFk[/url]

[Ozzie W]

This news is worthy of 100 points. He was arguably more influential than any other wine critic in the history of wine critics, but not always in a good way. I won't miss the so called "Parkerisation" of wines he was famous for, but nobody can deny his legacy.

[I Love Shiraz]

This guy did major damage to our wine reputation overseas. We had a decade (2000-2010) of massive fruit bombs being produced by wineries in our warmer areas. These wines were simply unbalanced, and did not age well.

[mychurch]

No, Parker did not do any damage. Any that was done, was perpetrated by the wineries themselves. Plenty of wineries the world over managed to thrive without a Parker review or a high score. Even then, there are more wines of balance and finesse with high Parker scores than there are for low acid, high alcohol, fruit bombs. Hope he has a nice retirement and that his back problems are solved.

[Ian S]

If we're to complete the circle (and I'm not arguing against the impact of Parker and the wineries), then we should most definitely include the extremely loyal following that Parker and TWA had at the time. Wines were bought on scores, and a good many people ended up with large volumes of wines in their cellars that they didn't like. Whilst the loyal following has diminished over recent years, the once heir apparent Antonio Galloni is doing his best to recreate that effect at his own wine site. It's nowhere near as bad as in the Parker days, but the latest '100 pointer' does still seem to shift wine.

[JamieBahrain]

I trialled Galloni's website and declined after a month. Got a email asking why and one of my points was what you are alluding to Ian.

He's a different guy now with his hundred pointers.

[Mivvy]

I used to like Galloni’s reviews but too many 96-100 point awards mean his scores are no longer meaningful and the notes themselves don’t convey any useful information. The other reviewers on his site are good for me , Neal Martin, Tanzer etc and I like the videos and other bits and pieces on there.

[Craig(NZ)]

I have more Parker 100 point wines than wines I rate 100 points
WTF is it with that?

[Mahmoud Ali]

Ignore, see the following post.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I have more Parker 100 point wines than wines I rate 100 points. WTF is it with that?

You've been following the wrong pied piper, that's what!

[Ian S]

I have more Parker 100 point wines than wines I rate 100 points
WTF is it with that?

Yes, but you rate wines up to 109 using 3dp as I recall - a pretty slim chance of you hitting that mark exactly

I am however slightly concerned you have a 'Parker 100 pointer'. I thought you were a man of taste and subtlety

[Mahmoud Ali]

My one and only Parker "100 pointer" has gone up and down over time. When I bought it back in the 80s he had scored it 98 points. Later it went up to 99 and then to 100 points. Thankfully it didn't go higher but later on it went back down. As of 2009 he rated it 95+ points and gave it drinking window of 2020 to 2050. I may never get to drink a mature bottle of it.

Mahmoud.

[Craig(NZ)]

I have more Parker 100 point wines than wines I rate 100 points
WTF is it with that?

Yes, but you rate wines up to 109 using 3dp as I recall - a pretty slim chance of you hitting that mark exactly

I am however slightly concerned you have a 'Parker 100 pointer'. I thought you were a man of taste and subtlety

Parker retired as he ran out of runway and realised I was correct all along

[Craig(NZ)]

My one and only Parker "100 pointer" has gone up and down over time. When I bought it back in the 80s he had scored it 98 points. Later it went up to 99 and then to 100 points. Thankfully it didn't go higher but later on it went back down. As of 2009 he rated it 95+ points and gave it drinking window of 2020 to 2050. I may never get to drink a mature bottle of it.

Mahmoud.

I have a few Parker 100's and have tried several others that I do not own
Some will never be properly ready in my lifetime, some will. I will try to drink them all anyway
I have been around long enough to know the failings of basically all methods of rating wine - shows, points, lists, crowd...
I am opinionated enough to have my own top dawgs
Those are the ones that really get me excited and make me happy

[Mahmoud Ali]

Well said Craig, I'm with you all the way.