Blake Gray on Parker's decline and fall

[Robin Garr]

I can't help but wonder if RMP would have better served his legacy through graceful retirement.

http://blog.wblakegray.com/2014/06/robe ... ardly.html

[David M. Bueker]

He ended up with all the money, and he obviously doesn't give a **** what you or anyone else thinks about his legacy.

...he obviously doesn't give a **** what you or anyone else thinks about his legacy.

So the feeling is mutual.

[Robin Garr]

He ended up with all the money, and he obviously doesn't give a **** what you or anyone else thinks about his legacy.

I'm sure that's true. However, it also gives me some basis for forming an opinion of his character. And yes, before you tell me, I know he doesn't care about that either.

I enjoyed the discussion on Breaking Bad. And if his description of Rayas was the basis of the majority of his writing and opinions, I think we'd all still like him more.

Mr Parker is slowly disappearing from the wine scene, after many years as the most important figure in that scene. For years people have attempted to use their criticism of Parker to enhance their own careers in wine. I believe he has been the most important individual that has helped the sales of fine wine in this country in the last fourty+ years. Let me say clearly that I'm not a fan of his particular palate but that does not in any way diminish his contributions.
When it comes to sommeliers in restaurants not always making good reccos I've been the recipient of bad advice on many occasions. Management says "what are we pushing on our list this week". Most people don't know any better.
Parker was an attorney who out of love for wine gave up a career in law to gamble on his ability to make a living writing about wine. I will always admire anyone who takes the "hard road" and rolls the dice whether they are successful or not.

Lou,
Parker isn't complaining about poor advice or hawking of particular bottlings, but claiming that well-known sommeliers (we're talking the Rajat Parrs, Levi Daltons, Michael Madrigales, Mark Ellenbogens, Pascaline Lepeltieres ) have formed a conspiracy with bloggers and journalists like Bonne and Asimov to make people drink wines they don't like! He knows that no one in their right mind would drink an Arbois white with their scallops when they could be drinking Chateauneuf (rouge)!

Is there some part of the article where Parker mentions and attributes to by name Levi, Mark E, etc the behavior you describe?

[David M. Bueker]

Some winemakers are saying the same things as Parker. I've been in a long discussing with Adam Lee regarding the "dangerous trend" of unripe wines.

It's sour grapes no matter who says it.

No, Lou, he never names anyone, but this is one of a long series of rants/snarky remarks about "hipster" sommeliers who advocate wines that are lower alcohol, made in non-tradional methods, and/or from varietals that don't make the Parker Top 10 list. And those are exactly the attributes that the lists of the somms I mentioned are well-known for.

If you think It’s funny that in the beer world, it seems like bigger and richer is what everyone wants, whereas in the wine world you have a group of hipster sommeliers who are basically advocating weird, undrinkable and deeply flawed wines." isn't about his rejection of lower alcohol wines, orange wines, Mondeuse, etc then we'll have to disagree, unless you think there are sommeliers who fit that description better.

Funny he should mention the beer world. The wine world is plagued by over-oaked fruit bomb wines. The beer world has its over-hopped high-alcohol IPAs.

-Paul W.

No, Lou, he never names anyone, but this is one of a long series of rants/snarky remarks about "hipster" sommeliers who advocate wines that are lower alcohol, made in non-tradional methods, and/or from varietals that don't make the Parker Top 10 list. And those are exactly the attributes that the lists of the somms I mentioned are well-known for.

If you think It’s funny that in the beer world, it seems like bigger and richer is what everyone wants, whereas in the wine world you have a group of hipster sommeliers who are basically advocating weird, undrinkable and deeply flawed wines." isn't about his rejection of lower alcohol wines, orange wines, Mondeuse, etc then we'll have to disagree, unless you think there are sommeliers who fit that description better.

It never changes, mention Parker and you'll get numerous responses. It really gets boring the "no flavor advocates" against the "pro flavor advocates" whatever the hell that means. I know some of the somms you mentioned and they don't really need anybody to defend their reputations. You and I may disagree with the wines Parker likes but I've never heard anyone either from here in Napa or Sonoma etc accuse him of being dishonest or capable of being bought in any manner. That's the most you could ask of any critic.
You would probably shudder in disgust if you could see how many people show up in our store with their copy of the Spectators 100 best the day it arrives. Believe me it has a much bigger influence on what people buy in our store than Mr Parker does. It's only grape juice!

I liked the comment from "Bob Jones". Pretentious in its own way, but an amusing perspective.

[Jenise]

It really gets boring the "no flavor advocates" against the "pro flavor advocates" whatever the hell that means. I know some of the somms you mentioned and they don't really need anybody to defend their reputations. You and I may disagree with the wines Parker likes but I've never heard anyone either from here in Napa or Sonoma etc accuse him of being dishonest or capable of being bought in any manner. That's the most you could ask of any critic.

Lou, I agree with your earlier statement about Parker's contributions, but not with what you say above, not at least in light of Parker's article that I just emailed to you. In that, he rather viciously and paranoically attacks people ("the perpetrators") who think differently than he, and attributes to them all forms of nefarious intents way beyond simply having different tastes. He sums up his article rather hilariously describing his choice of taking "the high road" and avoiding "distortions", but only after a diatribe in which he did anything but, employing all manner of inflammatory invective like: prophets of doom, ignorant, vaudeville, deranged, etc, even going to far as to suggest "Kim Jong-Unism" and "goose-stepping". It's EMBARRASSING! He's in danger of becoming the Glenn Beck of wine criticism, and it's entirely at his door that some of us who once had respect are forced to lose some of it.

Some winemakers are saying the same things as Parker. I've been in a long discussing with Adam Lee regarding the "dangerous trend" of unripe wines.

It's sour grapes no matter who says it.

Nobody else commented on this, David...so BRAVO!

(I am sadly enough a fan of unripe, acidic wines, so....)

As Jenise notes, my objection is to Parker's bizarre need to constantly attack people who make (or like) wines he dislikes, and to imply motives other than varying tastes. He's the one who keeps poking. I had respect for who he was, and this diminishes his legacy. I have never questioned his financial honesty (I do question his honesty when it comes to egotistical claims).

As to WS 100, I do realize that WS is much more a market driver than Parker in midlevel wine, especially CA. I always think the funny thing with the rush to buy the top 100 (and especially the top 10, and of course ESPECIALLY the WOTY) is they are wines that were already rated- if one cares about WS ratings- and are merely chosen to represent a market segment. The #1 is never the highest rated wine in my memory.

People have been trashing Parker on web sites, etc, for the last 20 years that I've become aware of. Now that he has retired maybe he feels like taking a few shots at his many critics. I confess to having participated in some of those public critiques over the years. My final observation let's find something or someone else to write about in the world of wine. (RIP R. Parker) PS On this board Alan may be ahead of Parker in discussion matter. Everybody have a good day. Lou K.