Wine Life Today blog - Latest Comments in Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

mark — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:05:04 -0000

Wow this is very good article! Thanks for putting so much time into it..

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Dominique — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:27:35 -0000

" Who is Robert Parker" ahah ! The king of wine.

I work in a restaurant in Provence in the Country of "ChateauNeuf du Pape" le "Moulin de la Roque" http://www.moulin-de-la-roq... ) and I can tell you it's a pleasure to drink it...

Bye !

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

bobzaguy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:23:26 -0000

Carin, your comment about Parker's influence being 'stripped away' and 'reduced space for editorial' seems to say you aren't aware that he owns his own journal. And sells it to quite a large number of people who want his opinions. To the tune of somewhere north of $3m a year. A fairly good job by most standards. Nothing but the best in wines is a side benefit to the job.
I am not a fan of his. My sense of taste in wine is the opposite of his. I prefer subtle refined and elegant wines that speak of their terroir. Surprising, because he is so well known for his Bordeaux writings. Their wines are normally not "fruit bombs" at all.
I am aware of how large an influence he does have in the industry. He has caused a large group of very serious people to become experts on their own about wines as a result of his writings. There isn't a group in the industry that I am aware of that doesn't consider Parker in either positive or negative terms. Most are positive.
That said, it wouldn't surprise me if there are significant numbers of elements in the industry that want to bypass him. He has been shown to be complicit in more than one winery losing distribution because of his low scores.
He hasn't lost the keys to the kingdom, the kingdom has just installed a few more doors that they aren't locking at the moment. There really is a giant wine lake out there. It needs to be sold. Anyway possible.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Paul — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:08:46 -0000

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In return, I could write a blog post referring my readers to your site and link to you. Let me know by emailing at admin @ best-wine-club.com

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

barbara70976 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:14:07 -0000

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Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Anthony — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:16:51 -0000

I feel dumb, but who is Robert Parker? Another thing, is California wine really all that great? I live in Missouri, so I've drinking our wine for quite some time. And I have to say that I love it, and it at a fraction of the price! I'm content drinking my 7.99 bottle of St. James Winery Friendship School Red wine.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Wine — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:12:18 -0000

I think he was just protecting his livelihood. It's a self preservation type of attack really. Something that should be embraced moving forward instead of disparaging the medium.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

caringalletta — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:28 -0000

My pleasure!

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Joel Vincent — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:58:55 -0000

I did write it a while ago but thanks for commenting. It was an outrageous exchange when it happened. The upside is this - let him ignore this space longer - more for the rest of us! :)

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

lisa schiffman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:54:23 -0000

i realize you wrote this quite awhile ago, but i just came upon the posting now. bravo! a terrific point-by-point. i loved attending the wine blogger's conference this year, btw. it was my first, and i look forward to others!

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

manish fusion — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:43:30 -0000

Thanks for post. It’s really informative stuff.
I really like to read.Hope to learn a lot and have a nice experience here! my best regards guys!
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Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Joel Vincent — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:03:23 -0000

Well said! Thanks for the comment!

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Carin Galletta Oliver — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:54:29 -0000

We are in an environment where social media is ubiquitous, it is in nearly every global household spanning young, old, rich and poor. This bloodless revolution has changed the way we read the news, get our mail, talk to our friends, network, decide our dining preference, and purchase everything from toilet paper to rare automobiles. We do it all online. And it happens in milliseconds.

At last count, more than 60 million worldwide bloggers are talking about everything from wigs, wine, wedding bling and grandma’s recipes. According to Technorati, nearly 100K new blogs are created each day. Consumer generated media is so powerful, it helped elect the most unlikely of candidates, President Barack Obama, against nearly impossible odds.

On the flip side, traditional media as we know it, is taking it’s last gasping breaths. Many reporters we’ve relied on for decades are going the way of the dinosaurs; by virtue of reduced space for editorial; daily layoffs; and the rise of the proletariat blogger.

The ascendency of the blogger and the ubiquity of social media have transformed the the very definition of influencer. Like it or not, luddites beware.

I'm sure it's very challenging as a journalist who has been the primary influencer for decades to realize that they no longer hold the keys to the kingdom. Parker's influence has been stripped away, not because of systematic conspiracy by the wine industry, but by a mass of humanity who no longer accepts that there is only one flavor profile (big fruit anyone) that is acceptable.

Parker and can either embrace the citizen journalist or be left behind at his own peril.

Carin Galletta

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

elenora123 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:52:57 -0000

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Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

digver — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:45:30 -0000

Declining subscriptions and market share force Parker to wield the might of his pen. I wouldn't take this as seriously as looking into the future of open source ratings and communications about any niche, but, specifically wine.

How long will Laube and Parker be the bar for winemaking and consumer interest in a wine? As long as it takes for the sheer viral aptitudes of interested wine lovers and growers to develop. Nothing more. We all have a hand in this and it shouldn't be in just two guys hands that have been or should be excusing themselves from the table and opening doors for the next revolution that they started 20+ years ago.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Raphael King — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:54:31 -0000

I couldn't agree with you more Alistair. If the california vineyards want limelight, let them make the wine better. "Build it and they will come"

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Mark Aselstine — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:58:11 -0000

Yeah Parker needs to back off. People are going to share info, that's a good thing, even if he loses some business because of it.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

ledomduvin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:37:17 -0000

I totally agree with you Alastair. I have been a Wine Buyer, Sommelier and Wine Director for the past 17 years, and a recent wine blogger yet I only obey to my taste buds. Although I respect him, I won't let myself influenced and do not care about what Mr. Parker has to say. In most cases, I taste without knowing the price, the rating or any other influential info.

I do not discuss the undeniable work that Mr. Parker has done for the past 30 years and the amount of people that he helped along the way to be discovered and attain the recognition that they have now.

What I'm trying to say is that Mr. Parker is only one man with one, now well established and characteristic, palate. He has been for years attracted by much more extracted, bolder, riper, heavier, woodier wines than the public wants to taste...

When he started, the American consumers were not educated and needed to follow the conviction and enthusiasm of someone that show them the right path. 30 years later, and I'm sure that is the reason why he is acting and talking like this (as Alastair said in his comment), he is slowly dying and loosing his touch.

People are now much more educated about wine than they used to be 20-30 years ago and they are eager for much more info than before, more precision and more discoveries: value wines, with more balance, more acidity, less wood, fresher, juicier fruit, lower prices, from smaller producers, more organic, biodynamic and from sustainable culture. More over, with this economy, who can really afford big labels and brands anymore.

Consumers want some new juice for a better price and that is what most wine bloggers bring to our attention and write about: somewhat undiscovered, small, artisan winemaker and lesser known wineries freshly arrived in the market. New wines that have not necessarily been in Mr. Parker's office or even Wine Spectator bureau for approbation.

They talk about what they drink and taste everyday. What fascinate them and trigger their interest. We are talking about thousand and thousand of different palates from all around the world, tasting wines from all around the world and expressing their opinions, and most of the time without rating and other numbers, just words and passion.

I would even agree more, with Alastair comment, by repeating his last sentence: "Blogs are about entertainment as well as opinion and fact and most of the ones I read are far more interesting than Parker's output."

Keep up the good work wine bloggers, as long as you stay true to your taste buds, to the wine and its origin, you should not be discourage to express yourself. People browsing the internet knows that to get the best info, you have to diversify your source of information. So keep up writing!

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin
www.LeDomduVin.com

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Michelle — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:38:34 -0000

I have a question for anyone who be helpful enough to let me know is Dr. Parker still practicing or did he close his office on Ted Crozier Blvd.? Not for me personally but the pt. needs b/p med and is out.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Joel V — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:24:26 -0000

So right Alastair! So right. And of course "tosser" is a good description ;-)

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Alastair — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:19:45 -0000

What a tosser. It is the fundamental right of every human being to be allowed to express their opinion. Just because the internet enables even small voices to be heard with (almost) equal weight it is hardly surprising that Mr Parker feels threatened.
He is in the same position as bookshops were a few years ago, or estate agents, or auction houses, or newspapers ah yes, the traditional media - dying slowly.
Blogs are about entertainment as well as opinion and fact and most of the ones I read are far more interesting than Parker's output.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

karen786 — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:46:00 -0000

This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and
needs to be appreciated by everyone.
===================
Karen Walter
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Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

jerome — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:11:44 -0000

interesting - you wouldn't typically imagine that someone from an industry that allows itself to be graded subjectively with scored tastings, would have any amount of struggle understanding user based groups from the interwebz.

or perhaps he thinks greater of wine than say food and uses zagat anyway.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Jack — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:53:48 -0000

That posts on that thread by Parker and "Mao" Squires were shameful. Frankly, you can't refrute illogical comments because, well, yeah, they're illogical. Just ignore.

Re: Robert Parker should be ashamed of himself…

Joel V — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:39:57 -0000

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and kind words on the post. Just trying to defend a defamation of the WBC!

Don't be gutless about taking a swipe at me or my work. Why is the eRob thread shut down? I didn't even get to defend my self. Complete punk move.

For the folks who DM'd me via Twitter - it doesn't take balls to say this to Parker. Why do I give a shit if Parker likes me or not? He doesn't sign my paycheck and I'm NOT going to let my name or anything associated with me or my character (i.e. family name) get called into question.

As far as I'm concerned, if he really wants to help, I'm sure we'd all welcome an education from the original maverick. If not, then I guess Gary Vaynerchuk really IS Robert Parker 2.0. Which is fine with me because I know Gary wouldn't punk out if he made statements like that.

Cheers!