THE POWER OF PARKER

Who says Robert Parker is becoming irrelevant? Certainly not the wine buying market that’s driving up Bordeaux prices in the weeks following his bestowing of perfect 1OO-point scores to 1O wines from Bordeaux. This follows on the heels of the 2OO9 “vintage of a lifetime” when 19 wines hit the triple digit mark from Parker. Adding to the growing prestige of 2O1O, 8 wines from all over Bordeaux hit 99 points. And an astounding 16 wines hit 98. According to Robert Parker, it’s quite possible that 6 to 8 more 2O1O Bordeaux wines are going to 1OO points in another decade or so. The 1O wines to achieve 1OO points are: Chateau Pontet-Canet, Haut-Brion, Latour, Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse), Pétrus, Pape Clement, Le Dome, La Violette, Cheval Blanc and Le Pin. From this list were back-to-back perfect scores for the Chateaux Pontet-Canet, Beausejour Duffau and Latour. And it’s predicted that Bordeaux prices will increase as the 2O11 and 2O12 vintages have only had lukewarm receptions.