Excellent wines from Robert Parker

Robert M. Parker Jr. (born July 23, 1947) is one of the leading and probably best-known U.S. wine critics with an international influence on the wine world. His wine ratings, based on a 100-point scale, have become established worldwide as the so-called "Parker Points" or "Parker Points." His newsletter, "The Wine Advocate," with its particular stylistic preferences and vocabulary, has become a major factor in the American wine market in determining the price of newly released wines. In the beginning, wines from France were his domain, especially from the Bordeaux, Burgundy and Côte du Rhône regions.

For more than 25 years he has also rated Italian and American wines, and since 2000 German, Australian and Spanish wines have also received ratings. Robert Parker is arguably the most influential wine critic in the world today, being the first and only to have been awarded the highest honors by two French presidents as well as an Italian president.

Robert Parker, who also holds a law degree, has written a total of 14 wine books to date, which have made it onto the bestseller list not only in the United States, but also in their translated editions in France, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Poland, China, Spain, South Korea and Russia. Parker has been described in the Los Angeles Times as a "fierce champion for wine consumers" as well as "the most powerful and influential critic in all fields" and a "bon vivant and passionate wine lover who is largely to thank for the vastly improved quality of wines throughout the Western world, as well as the exponential growth in interest, knowledge and sophistication of those who enjoy drinking wine." Arguably one of the most influential yet controversial hallmarks of Parker's wine criticism is his famous 100-point scale. Parker developed this system to counter what he saw as the confusing and inflated ratings of many other wine writers-especially wine critics, whom he accused primarily of conflict of interest, as they were often driven by financial interest. The scale rates wines between 50 and 100 points, which are based on the color and appearance of the wine, its aromas and bouquets, as well as taste and finish, thus determining the wine's quality level or potential in an all-encompassing way:

• 96 to 100 points: extraordinary
• 90 to 95 points: excellent
• 80 to 89 points: above average to very good
• 70 to 79 points: average
• 50 to 69 points: poor to below average

In addition, Parker awards a plus sign (+) to those wines that he believes have special potential in the aging period.