If you enjoyed the video and want to see more behind-the-scenes peeks at the wine industry check out our website! bonnerprivatewines.com/the-wine-explorers-letter/are-point-scores-useful-when-buying-wine/
I appreciate the explanation. The same problem exists for video game critics, they have to review games favorably in order to continue receiving the game before release for review. Thus the reviews become meaningless.
It's surprising to see a limited understanding of Robert Parker's contributions given your usual high standards. Parker earned the nickname "The Nose" due to his exceptional ability to taste and judge wine, accurately identifying even the subtlest of flavors and aromas. To minimize such a noteworthy career with a one-dimensional description is an injustice to his achievements. The Wine Advocate, established by Parker, aimed to bring balance to the wine industry by offering accessible and impartial wine ratings and reviews to consumers. Inspired by Ralph Nader's consumer protection model, Parker strove to bring transparency to an industry where evaluations were previously controlled by a small group of experts and not widely available to the general public. Contrary to popular belief, Parker's focus was not solely on big, oaky fruit bombs, but instead, he had a well-rounded palate. This stereotype is just a baseless urban legend perpetuated by envy. I can attest to this fact, having had the opportunity to ask Jancis Robinson about Parker years after Château Pavie was elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classe A status. Even Robinson had to acknowledge that while she still stood by her own score, Parker's evaluation was ultimately proven correct. The envy in the industry towards him always comes across as childish. That's from someone who never had a subscription to the Advocate and loves your channel.
Certainly, Parker appreciates wines that are well structured, having balance of oak, fruit, tannin, and alcohol together with all the nuances of favor and bouquet we all appreciate. But his palate tends toward wines of greater fruit and alcohol than some of us prefer. This has led the industry to make more fruity and alcoholic wines that some, including Matt Kramer may believe detracts from the sense of place by overpowering the subtleties of terroir. I hope I am not misinterpreting what Matt Kramer and others are saying. In any case, one should know their own palate and take that into account when reading critics scores.
@@thomasschellberg8213 Thank you for your thoughtful response I must start my response with a caveat. I'm not a staunch follower of Robert Parker. However, I just think the criticism isn’t well-argued by the evidence. To illustrate this, I'd like to draw an analogy from basketball. When the NBA transitioned to a run-and-gun offense, many seasoned analysts and enthusiasts bemoaned the departure from a defensive game. Yet, the result was that most teams eventually adopted the new offensive scheme. The fans were happy. I disagree with the narrative that Robert Parker was the Pied Piper who led the wine industry making them conform to his palate. Today’s consumer wine palate reflects the preferences of modern wine drinkers globally. Many consumers today prefer wines that are fruity and oaky, and Parker simply recognized and responded to this reality. He aimed to evaluate wines based on their structure and quality, and any stylistic changes that made that more apparent were driven by wineries seeking to increase profits and satisfy shareholders. It was once commonly said that wine is an acquired taste, but this phrase is heard less often nowadays. This shift could be attributed to the fact that winemakers have adapted their styles to meet the desires of consumers, resulting in wines that are more approachable and fruit-forward. The modern wine consumer has always sought out these qualities in their wine, and it seems that the industry has caught up with these preferences. As a result, wine is becoming more accessible and enjoyable for a wider range of people, rather than being seen as an acquired taste that requires a developed palate. Parker would likely argue that he was simply recognizing this reality in wine drinkers and providing a transparent evaluation of wines that met those preferences.
If you enjoyed the video and want to see more behind-the-scenes peeks at the wine industry check out our website! bonnerprivatewines.com/the-wine-explorers-letter/are-point-scores-useful-when-buying-wine/
I appreciate the explanation. The same problem exists for video game critics, they have to review games favorably in order to continue receiving the game before release for review. Thus the reviews become meaningless.
It's surprising to see a limited understanding of Robert Parker's contributions given your usual high standards. Parker earned the nickname "The Nose" due to his exceptional ability to taste and judge wine, accurately identifying even the subtlest of flavors and aromas. To minimize such a noteworthy career with a one-dimensional description is an injustice to his achievements. The Wine Advocate, established by Parker, aimed to bring balance to the wine industry by offering accessible and impartial wine ratings and reviews to consumers. Inspired by Ralph Nader's consumer protection model, Parker strove to bring transparency to an industry where evaluations were previously controlled by a small group of experts and not widely available to the general public.
Contrary to popular belief, Parker's focus was not solely on big, oaky fruit bombs, but instead, he had a well-rounded palate. This stereotype is just a baseless urban legend perpetuated by envy. I can attest to this fact, having had the opportunity to ask Jancis Robinson about Parker years after Château Pavie was elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classe A status. Even Robinson had to acknowledge that while she still stood by her own score, Parker's evaluation was ultimately proven correct. The envy in the industry towards him always comes across as childish. That's from someone who never had a subscription to the Advocate and loves your channel.
Certainly, Parker appreciates wines that are well structured, having balance of oak, fruit, tannin, and alcohol together with all the nuances of favor and bouquet we all appreciate. But his palate tends toward wines of greater fruit and alcohol than some of us prefer. This has led the industry to make more fruity and alcoholic wines that some, including Matt Kramer may believe detracts from the sense of place by overpowering the subtleties of terroir. I hope I am not misinterpreting what Matt Kramer and others are saying. In any case, one should know their own palate and take that into account when reading critics scores.
@@thomasschellberg8213 Thank you for your thoughtful response
I must start my response with a caveat. I'm not a staunch follower of Robert Parker. However, I just think the criticism isn’t well-argued by the evidence. To illustrate this, I'd like to draw an analogy from basketball. When the NBA transitioned to a run-and-gun offense, many seasoned analysts and enthusiasts bemoaned the departure from a defensive game. Yet, the result was that most teams eventually adopted the new offensive scheme. The fans were happy.
I disagree with the narrative that Robert Parker was the Pied Piper who led the wine industry making them conform to his palate. Today’s consumer wine palate reflects the preferences of modern wine drinkers globally.
Many consumers today prefer wines that are fruity and oaky, and Parker simply recognized and responded to this reality. He aimed to evaluate wines based on their structure and quality, and any stylistic changes that made that more apparent were driven by wineries seeking to increase profits and satisfy shareholders.
It was once commonly said that wine is an acquired taste, but this phrase is heard less often nowadays. This shift could be attributed to the fact that winemakers have adapted their styles to meet the desires of consumers, resulting in wines that are more approachable and fruit-forward. The modern wine consumer has always sought out these qualities in their wine, and it seems that the industry has caught up with these preferences. As a result, wine is becoming more accessible and enjoyable for a wider range of people, rather than being seen as an acquired taste that requires a developed palate.
Parker would likely argue that he was simply recognizing this reality in wine drinkers and providing a transparent evaluation of wines that met those preferences.