Although the French appellation system has its roots in the 1923 system created in Chateauneuf-du-Pape by Baron Le Roy, proprietor of the renowned Chateau Fortia, Chateauneuf-du-Pape never developed a reputation for quality or achieved the prestige enjoyed by such regions as Burgundy and Bordeaux. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
When somebody wants to write an article attacking a scoring system or the influence of wine writers, who’s right in the cross hairs? It’s not Steve Tanzer, it’s not Marvin Shanken, it’s me. These other people, it’s not like they don’t have some influence, and I’m more than happy to share it. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
You can’t simplify my taste and say, ‘Parker likes big wines,’ because it’s just not true. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
The premise of Nossiter in ‘Mondovino’ would have been a lot more accurate when I started writing about wine in 1978 than when the movie was made in 2003. When I started, I was enormously critical of California wines, and I thought the entire wine industry was on a real slippery slope. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
What happens is that the people who are leaders in any field are copied. I mean, there’s a reason why every wine newsletter tends to look like mine. They see someone who’s been successful, so they sort of copy these same ideas. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
Trevisan is one of the few Paso Robles producers to recognize the potential of the region’s old-vine Zinfandel, which he blends with Syrah and Mourvedre and labels with fanciful names such as Problem Child, the Outsider and Cherry Red. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
If California ever developed a vineyard rating system, Saxum’s James Berry Vineyard would be classified as one of the best. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
After years of infertility tests, the best decision we ever made was to adopt, and in 1987, we were bestowed a three-month-old baby girl from an island off the south coast of Korea called Cheju Island. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
There is no question that Australia’s most dramatic assault on the world market has been with its value wines. These are generally not from specific appellations but blends made by huge enterprises like Penfolds, Rosemount or Casella Estate – the group behind Yellow Tail. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
There is nothing in the world like the extraordinary Shiraz and Grenache wines from South Australia. While the most sought-after are undeniably expensive (they’re made in tiny quantities from ancient vines), they are huge, rich and concentrated, and represent some of planet Earth’s most compelling wines. Robert M. Parker, Jr. Read Quote
