Robert parker

• November 2009

  As I understand it, Robert Parker does get some flack for being a lover of big, jammy fruit bomb shiraz from Australia. I am not sure if this would be one of those, but it falls in line with his usual high scores for shiraz from this area. I think he's just got a personal affinity... Read moreAs I understand it, Robert Parker does get some flack for being a lover of big, jammy fruit bomb shiraz from Australia. I am not sure if this would be one of those, but it falls in line with his usual high scores for shiraz from this area. I think he's just got a personal affinity for them so tends to judge them all a bit subjectively. Then again, I am sure even us amateurs fall victim to that rating wines on here as well for wines or producers we love. It happens!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Parker 95 pts - Wine... by VegasOenophile

  
  

• November 2009

  Another example, Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol, WS 95, WA 86. I just had a glass ... have been a bad day for the Robert Parker reviewer

  Forum post in the topic Disparity of wine ratings by donccpa

  
  

• November 2009

  A Bootful of Wine – Tasting Notes from Italy A visit to Terrabianca ... loved this wine, and so did Robert Parker a few years ago. 18 pts 5      Campaccio “Selezione”  Riserva 2004 With a higher Cabernet component (50%) and 24 months of oak treatment, this was a... Read moreA Bootful of Wine - Tasting Notes from Italy A visit to Terrabianca ... loved this wine, and so did Robert Parker a few years ago. 18 pts 5      Campaccio “Selezione”  Riserva 2004 With a higher Cabernet component (50%) and 24 months of oak treatment, this was a wonderfully deep and unctuous wine with chewy tannins and again that savoury edge. It struck me that Italians do with Sangiovese what we in Australia do with Shiraz - fill the Cabernet ‘doughnut’ with dark fruit while clinging to the structure that Cabernet Sauvignon offers, to create their Supertuscans. This has a long life ahead of it - 18.5 pts. 6      Cipresso 2005 We moved on to an interesting set of wines. The first was another 100% Sangiovese wine but not labeled as Chianti Classico and therefore not a DOCG, but an IGT wine. Savoury notes were evident as were the plum, cherry and berry flavours. This time, some liquorice and fennel added to the spiciness. The mouthfeel was wonderful, and belied the commonly held belief that extraction is difficult with Sangiovese. This too has a long life ahead of it - if waiting is possible. 18.7 pts 7      Il Tesoro (Merlot) 2005 This 100% Merlot was like few Australian Merlots I have tasted (barring perhaps the Three Hills Merlot from Happs). From their southerly and more maritime vineyards, the differences between day and nighttime temperatures have added to the acid and structure. The nougat and almond flavours probably derive from the oak treatment, and though not off putting, will further integrate with time. 18 pts. 8      Ceppate 2005 This is a Cabernet dominant wine (90%) with the rest being Merlot. This wine was closed and fruit flavours had to be coaxed out of it with heavy swirling and time. A classic Bordeaux style, with the addition of more perfume on the nose than I have been used to, this too demands time. 17.5 pts We completed the tasting by sampling the extra virgin olive oil produced by Terrabianca - a classic Tuscan style - strong and peppery, with hints of citrus - to light up any salad or loaf of bread you would choose to have with it. What did I learn from the tasting? Firstly, Sangiovese, with its many (13 clones) is a versatile variety, and in the right hands, extraction to produce complex and powerful red wine is possible. (Sangiovese is known by many names - it is the Morellino from Scansano, the Brunello from Montepulciano, and even the Sagrantino from neighbouring Montefalco in Umbria is thought to be related. Secondly, if I were an importer, this is the kind of producer I would deal with. Expert viticulture, modern winemaking facilities, great quality fruit, and every wine in the stable exceptional at its price point. What is the cost of the wine? Well, in Italy, unlike Australia, wine is cheaper at the cantina or winery. So the wines ranged from 10 Euro for the La Croce, to 36 Euro for the Campaccio Riserva and the Ceppate. What did I buy? A dozen each of the Cipresso and the Campaccio - at 20 Euro a bottle. Until next time, ciao! Brendan Janse    (hide)

  From the article A Bootful of Wine - A Visit to Terrabianca

  
  

• November 2009

  The wine is a "2005 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon". And your correct the Robert Parker review was by Jay Miller. The price for the wine was $ 74.99 and was being sold for $ 39.74. With a 97 point wine I thought it looked like a good deal but not after I saw the... Read moreThe wine is a "2005 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon". And your correct the Robert Parker review was by Jay Miller. The price for the wine was $ 74.99 and was being sold for $ 39.74. With a 97 point wine I thought it looked like a good deal but not after I saw the 89 on WS. The retailer had this to say, "Parker's Wine Advocate, in particular, favors a certain powerful style of wine that can at best lack nuance and at worst seem over the top. Big, extracted red wines tend to get higher scores than wines of similar quality made in other styles"    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Disparity of wine ratings by donccpa

  
  

• November 2009

  This is pretty common, but the spread here is quite wide. You have to remember that Robert Parker's Wine Advocate employs the wildly enthusiastic and non-discriminatory palate of a certain Dr. Jay Miller to promote the wines of Australia, as well as some other choice regions. I... Read moreThis is pretty common, but the spread here is quite wide. You have to remember that Robert Parker's Wine Advocate employs the wildly enthusiastic and non-discriminatory palate of a certain Dr. Jay Miller to promote the wines of Australia, as well as some other choice regions. I don't know what wine you are referring to but a good rule of thumb for the Wine Advocate's Australian reviews is to discount by 5 points. That gives you a score of 92 points. Roughly in the same ball park as the Specs score. It's quite likely that the wine in question is an over the top fruit bomb, which further explains the discrepancy here. So it's even more important to read the reviews. Is this a fruit bomb? Do you like fruit bombs? Is it restrained and elegant? Is that what you are looking for? Points are fun, and to a certain extent meaningless, though exceptionally good fodder for endless debates and discussions! I use them as a way to gauge the consistency of a reviewer, myself included, as opposed to a real definitive qualitative tool. So what's the wine and what's the price?    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Disparity of wine ratings by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• November 2009

  A local wine merchant advertised a sale on an Australian Cabernet quoting a 97 rating from Robert Parker. When I checked the same wine on Wine Spectator it was an 89. What do I make of this? Is it a 90 point wine or not and is the "sale" a good deal or not. Anyone else have these... Read moreA local wine merchant advertised a sale on an Australian Cabernet quoting a 97 rating from Robert Parker. When I checked the same wine on Wine Spectator it was an 89. What do I make of this? Is it a 90 point wine or not and is the "sale" a good deal or not. Anyone else have these situations?    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Disparity of wine ratings by donccpa

  
  

• October 2009

  His son made an announcement on the eRobertParker board when it got settled. It's exactly what I thought would happen. He gets to say he sued and won. Nobody knows the details and he can act like the entire thing was wrong, when in fact that is far from the case. He didn't win... Read moreHis son made an announcement on the eRobertParker board when it got settled. It's exactly what I thought would happen. He gets to say he sued and won. Nobody knows the details and he can act like the entire thing was wrong, when in fact that is far from the case. He didn't win And look at it from the publisher's side. Broadbent's lawyer said that although the book was published in the US, there were a few thousand copies in the UK, and as a result, they chose to sue there, rather than in the US, because the libel laws are far more lenient. They knew full well that in the US, they would have no case whatsoever. The entire complaint was built on a comment made by Marvin Shanken to an associate in private. He supposedly said "Who knows if there was even a bidder" referring to a phone call that came towards the end of an auction. That was simple speculation and he didn't even say that he thought there was fraud, he simply raised a question. If the case went to court in the US, Broadbent would have to swear that in fact, there was a mysterious last minute bid. And even if there was, the mere question would not give rise to a libel action. Also, there are probably not many more copies remaining to be sold. A little publicity in England, where Broadbent may be appreciated more important than he is in the US, could sell the books. Random House has no "reputation" to protect, it simply wants to sell books, and any publicity is good. The dozen people who are still interested in the issue and who haven't purchased the book might be reminded to pick it up. So Random House doesn't get any more publicity if they litigate and announce a win than if they concede, they just spend more money. Finally, if Random House had the case dismissed, there is no news. They just made a pest go away. In this case, a little controversy remains, which can help sales. They did the right thing. They would have done the same in Russia or China or France, where casting doubt on the state or on a treasured icon is considered a criminal offense. It doesn't mean he "won", it simply means they made the economic decision that since the court was going to rule against them regardless, they may as well pay the blackmail and let him have his day. His reputation is tarnished anyway based on the fact that he admitted he had no idea what he was talking about. And don't forget, Koch has several lawsuits pending right here in the US. If Broadbent is called to testify, he'll have to face exactly what he didn't want to face in England. What do you want to bet that he claims he's too old and fragile to travel? Mind you, none of this has anything to do with his contributions over the years. But he's quite diminished in my eyes as a person, because this was a BS lawsuit. It would not have survived a motion to dismiss in the US.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic "The Billionaire's Vinegar" by GregT

  
  

• October 2009

  Rating scores seem to have trended higher over most venues. I have been playing ... a reviewers perspective - Robert Parker is much older today than he was 20 years ago and his age certainly affects his judgment - and understanding the wines - a Bordeaux versus a Rioja - coupled... Read moreRating scores seem to have trended higher over most venues. I have been playing ... a reviewers perspective - Robert Parker is much older today than he was 20 years ago and his age certainly affects his judgment - and understanding the wines - a Bordeaux versus a Rioja - coupled with the tasting notes are what give a clear perspective of the wine in question. Scores are just an attempt at an easy answer to the question of "Is this wine good?" There are no easy answers. Scores are a consumable product just like the wines that they rate. Demand for higher scores yields higher scores. What I took from Gregory's post on Aug 22 is that the notes are subjective to the wines, and that the scores are subjective to the times    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Are scores getting higher? by Terry M

  
  

• October 2009

  I am always surprised at how much those last 3 points can cost. 98,99, the ... example take a look at three Robert Parker 100 point wines, and I'm not talking about any of his associates which are also valued differently. The 2005 Deus ex Machina Chateauneuf du Pape = +/- $400($75... Read moreI am always surprised at how much those last 3 points can cost. 98,99, the ... example take a look at three Robert Parker 100 point wines, and I'm not talking about any of his associates which are also valued differently. The 2005 Deus ex Machina Chateauneuf du Pape = +/- $400($75 0n release) 540 cases 2004 Chapoutier Ermitage le Meal Blanc= +/- $ $250 ($250 on release) 266 cases 2005 L'Eglise Clinet =+/- $700 ($260 on release) 1000 cases. So there are 100 pointers and there are 100 pointers. C'est la vie. I have always said that I am most impressed with wines that got 88 to 90 Parker points. With grade inflation that may mean 88-93 points, but I am lucky that way I guess.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Price/Score Ratio Formula for... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• October 2009

  Very interesting reading the variety of comments, but living in Australia I ... distributors, marketers (and Robert Parker) can be blamed. Those wines do exist of course, and there are actually some pretty good ones despite the prejudice, but the reality is they're really only a... Read moreVery interesting reading the variety of comments, but living in Australia I ... distributors, marketers (and Robert Parker) can be blamed. Those wines do exist of course, and there are actually some pretty good ones despite the prejudice, but the reality is they're really only a small part of the Australian wine industry. Unfortunately there has been a bias in the wine sent for export, much of it at the cheap end, and a lot of it the fruit bombs - many of which I've never seen in Australia, nor heard of until I've walked into an American bottle shop. What I'm saying in effect is that a lot of what ends up on a table overseas is not indicative of what is bought and consumed here in Oz. The Australian wine industry is much more sophisticated than its current reputation would suggest, and becomes more so with each passing year. What the common punter perhaps does not understand is the remarkable diversity of wine regions in Australia, each with varying subtleties of climate, perspective, soil and so on. Not surprisingly different regions specialise in different varieties, and good deal of it exceptional. It's a huge industry and getting bigger. While there are huge wineries there are also small family run vineyards and winemakers looking to push the edges. It makes for a dynamic industry and good drinking.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic What's wrong with Australian... by Hieronymous666

  
  

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