Robert Parker. If you are interested in wine, you have surely heard this name. Robert Parker is one of those names that matter and carry weight in the world of wine. But in the end, who is Robert Parker? Let’s get to know this benchmark wine critic.
Who is Robert Parker?
Robert Parker was born on 23 July 1947 in the United States. He is a benchmark wine critic in the US and around the world. He worked as a lawyer for 10 years before devoting himself fully to his passion: wine. One interesting anecdote is that Robert Parker’s nose and palate are insured for several million dollars. After all, they are his only working tools, so that is quite understandable. One of Robert Parker’s strengths and innovations is his independence. The wines are always tasted blind and scored out of 100, which allows real precision in the scoring.
Robert Parker’s scores
The scores Robert Parker gives a wine range from 50 to 100. These scores have genuinely become a standard in the wine world. Of course, it is important not to stop at the Robert Parker score alone: many tastings come with a very interesting tasting note. That note gives a lot of information and is often very useful for properly understanding the wine. Here is a list to help you interpret Robert Parker’s scores. Robert Parker describes the scores as follows:
- 96 - 100: The wine is exceptional. It perfectly represents its terroir and is a classic for its type. You can accept paying more for these truly incredible bottles.
- 90 - 95: The wine is very good. It is clearly worth buying, opening and tasting.
- 80 - 89: The wine is slightly above average. Do not expect anything exceptional, but you will have a good bottle that you can easily drink.
- 70 - 79: The wine has no major flaws. It is a well-made wine.
- 60 - 69: The wine is below average and has significant flaws.
- 50 - 59: The wine is not acceptable, or even a bad wine.
Some scores are shown in parentheses. That happens because the wine was tasted while it was still in barrel. It was then impossible to give a precise score, hence the range in parentheses. Scores followed by a ”+” symbol indicate that the score could rise in the coming years as the bottle ages. Finally, some scores come with a ”?” symbol. This indicates an unusual result, where further tastings would be needed to confirm the score.
Why do the scores matter?
As mentioned, Robert Parker gives different scores after his tastings. But why do these scores matter? In reality, the scores Robert Parker gives have a major influence on how wine is sold. So let’s see how these scores affect wine sales and what the limits of such scoring are in the wine world.
The importance of Robert Parker scores
Robert Parker’s scores are particularly important in the wine world. They are reference points for all consumers. Many scores are used by estates to communicate the quality of their wine. These scores are also often crucial for wine sellers: whether online or in shops, they are often used to demonstrate a wine’s quality. The scores have clearly become a marketing argument for selling wine. They also have a major impact on the price of wine bottles. So it is an interesting thing to keep an eye on for anyone who wants to invest in wine.
Limits and controversies
The scores given by the famous American critic do, however, raise a few questions and have certain limits. First, these scores raise the question of standardizing wines. Since the taste of a few people has a major influence on the supply and makeup of the market, there is a fear that wines may be standardized to please the critic. Critics of the famous reviewer accuse him of a worldwide standardization of wine, which is also called “Parkerization”, in his honor. To keep discovering Robert Parker, you can head to his website. If you want to go further in your wine journey and really understand what you are drinking, join the Wine Makers Show club.
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