tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post1721190405376529581..comments2024-03-11T10:03:54.473-04:00Comments on TheWineBlog: Policy and practice at the Wine Advocate - Parker respondsLuiz Alberto, #wineloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16176998729974487627noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post-84073287189751261102009-05-17T08:08:00.000-04:002009-05-17T08:08:00.000-04:00Parker is becoming irrelevant. Times are changing....Parker is becoming irrelevant. Times are changing. His form of elitism is much like that of Louis Vuitton handbags. Once you allow production of the product to be done outside, one finds the platform manufacturer creating "knock-offs" for pennies on the dollar for the peasants to wonder the streets selling.<br /><br />While residing in France, I was taught that a true Frenchman only will base a wine purchase on quality vs. price and it must only complement the food. Some Locals were asked about the wines Parker writes of - if they had heard of them and the price, they would shrug this off as nonsense or an Americanism. Some saw no need to spend that amount of money even in a Michelin restaurant. Some were vigneron - Parker hopefuls, but not on Parker's wine route.<br /><br />Like Jim from Sorrento, I too believe I can duplicate most of Parker's choices in the 88-90 range for 9 Euros and get to know the small vigneron, productori or wintzer at no extra charge. Not a steak on the grill eater, I found it very difficult to drink his over-wooded alcohol bombs with most foods. The most difficult thing was to want to buy one of his "cult" wines at auction to drink and find no one who had actually tasted one. <br /><br />We will know the end of this era has finally arrived when the local farmers worldwide tear-out the vines and turn the land back to the growing of wheat, corn, rye and soybeans which will soon pay them better. We will know the end is near when the likes of Fosters own what vineyards remain. Times are a chang'n.joeldee1https://www.blogger.com/profile/17985035569945888276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post-39199685589777726042009-05-10T08:59:00.000-04:002009-05-10T08:59:00.000-04:00The sooner that RP exits stage left as a wine comm...The sooner that RP exits stage left as a wine commentator, the sooner that high alcohol, jammy wines will get relegated to the bin end section where they belong. A question over his recommendations can only be a good thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post-63669870445205255982009-05-08T18:28:00.000-04:002009-05-08T18:28:00.000-04:00For me, Mr Parker is anathema.While not solely his...For me, Mr Parker is anathema.While not solely his fault, the environment created by reliance on his opinion is inherently corrupt. Now I'll go back to this great, unnamed sfuso di falanghina from the place down the street.<br /><br />Jim in SorrentoJimhttp://fromitalia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post-66533599849697192162009-05-08T16:00:00.000-04:002009-05-08T16:00:00.000-04:00Was it Confucius who said, "He who throws the firs...Was it Confucius who said, "He who throws the first punch loses the argument"?<br /><br />I have no problem with tastings, dinners, tours, trips, whatever that are laid on by the industry. An ethical journalist will be grateful for the effort, but knows there is no obligation to reciprocate in writing.<br /><br />However, when one has made a big deal asbout not taking freebees, and then takes them anyway that's hypocritical if not actually unethical. One of the problems with having power is the tendency to think you actually are powerful and, to some degree, beyond criticism. In this situation, Parker may be a victim of his own success.Richard Best - The Frugal Oenophilehttp://www.frugalwine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216097425984492529.post-29964028196436128002009-05-08T15:42:00.000-04:002009-05-08T15:42:00.000-04:00This is an issue that comes around every so often....This is an issue that comes around every so often.<br />Parker has gotten snared here because he now has several people traveling and tasting in his name. <br />He used to do all the work himself. Until he caused some bad blood in regions like France's Burgundy and Italy's Piemonte. <br />Now, with every world wine region wanting a Parker 90+ recommendation, he can't do it all. <br />There seem to be some pretty nice perks dangling for his associates. Not everyone can resist the temptation.<br />When the taster and the tastee become very palsy-walsy it is difficult for the consumer, who trusts the taster to be objective, to know if the reports on the wines are still objective or if the taster has hedged his criticism with nice, smooth reviews of the wine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com