Comments on: The Robert Parker bombshell

By: GeorgeWong

GeorgeWong — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 04:44:08 +0000

I believed that not only significant structural changes were to take place at TWA following the move, but also the entire evolution of the F&B scene. Each transformation could help Singapore achieve her vision of becoming the region’s gourmet capital and a world-recognized destination for dining, nightlife and entertainment. It’s just like “Gangnam Style” in the wine world, with the newly appointed Singapore-based editor-in-chief, would boost “brand Singapore”.

Recently, the two new integrated resorts are changing the tourism landscape with Michelin-starred restaurants, celebrity chefs and world-class clubs. Certainly, it would be my dream to make Singapore into a wine-hub that Asia cannot do without!
Cheers
George Wong, Wine MBA
Oenologue & Consultant
Singapore

By: WanderingPalate

WanderingPalate — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:52:31 +0000

I sense a disturbance in the force, and so much sour grapes… and poor journalism. Perhaps Singapore is destined to be the centre of the wine universe…and perhaps there is a wine and food audience and ‘life’ beyond America. One should not underestimate the talent involved here or be poisoned by the agendas of the competition… it is time to shake up the status quo

By: Chris08

Chris08 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:59:26 +0000

And my last laugh here: this pretty much validates my viewpoint,

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/fr ontal-cortex/2012/06/wine-taste.html

By: Chris08

Chris08 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:52:20 +0000

PS I recall reading one “expert” (maybe it was Parker) who, when asked what wines he preferred, said “I usually go for the cheapest since most of them taste pretty much alike,” or words to that effect.

By: Chris08

Chris08 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:49:38 +0000

What difference can it make? Wine quality is almost entirely subjective. I have had tastings with wine connoisseurs and the result almost always was that the most expensive wines were among the lowest rated while in general opinions “varied” widely. So why worry about who runs an wine evaluation scheme? Warren Buffett with his no nonsense Nebraska good sense had it right when he said most of the satisfaction from comparing wines comes simply from being able to waste time talking about it.

By: Strych09

Strych09 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Frankly, I only subscribed to the Wine Advocate because Parker, while I don’t always share his enthusiasm for big fruit bomb wines that don’t seem to pair well with ANY food, at least had integrity. And he was usually fun to read.

This group of Singaporean investors seems like they’re going to upend everything that made subscribing to the Wine Advocate (over other similar publications) make sense, which means a lot of American subscribers (if they’re like me) are going to let their subscriptions lapse, and then the audience that Parker spent most of his adult life building, which represents the goodwill that the group of Singaporean investors are buying, will shrink, with a significant concomitant reduction in value of the newsletter as an enterprise.

So the purchase only works on economic terms if they more than make up for the loss in American readers with lots of Asian ones.

And fresnodan, yes, slate is a taste. Take some very pure water, run it over some slate (yes, the rock) and taste what results. That’s the taste that’s being referenced in the reviews you’re referring to.

By: Galbraith

Galbraith — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:53:16 +0000

I vote for Tommy Lam for the China Correspondent´s job!

By: KenG_CA

KenG_CA — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:44:38 +0000

George Lucas sold to Disney, these guys can’t live forever. So either they pick who to sell to, or their heirs do.

By: QCIC

QCIC — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:15:54 +0000

Sounds like he made a lot of money, what is not to understand?

By: jhenline

jhenline — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:42:39 +0000

Understanding the importance of the far east’s obsession with wine is the key to understanding Parker’s motives.
They have completely taken over high end wine purchases. They buy everything and anything that is expensive. Price does not seem to matter.
Follow the money!!

By: maynardGkeynes

maynardGkeynes — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:31:29 +0000

From the sound of this deal, he better get paid up front.

By: fresnodan

fresnodan — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:44:08 +0000

Wine ratings make as much sense as fast food ratings. Everybody has the experience of fast food, and the confidence to say I’m nuts if I assert the MacDonalds Big Mac is the tastiest mass produced hamburger (or what the heck, just THE best hamburger on the planet).

Parker has opinions about which wines taste good…that’s it. And that is fine. And critics, be they food, movie, or theatre, can provide some value. The problem with wine critique is that it evolved in the most pretentious drivel imaginable.
Slate…(the rock) – that is suppose to be a taste???

By: Sechel

Sechel — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:35:31 +0000

I started out my wine experience reading Spectator and then Parker. Frankly I find both of them lacking, with the former praising questionable wines and the latter over-rating wines and praising over-the-top, in your face wines. At least with myself Parker has lost all influence and in talking to others who have been involved in wine for some time the same is true for them. Perhaps he is selling because he realizes that the value of his franchise is at a peak or has already started declining.