Robert M. Parker Jr.

Robert McDowell Parker Jr. was born July 23, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised in a family with no particular interest in wine, his passion emerged during a transformative trip to Alsace, France in 1967.

Early life:

• Studied history at the University of Maryland
• Earned law degree from University of Maryland School of Law (1973)
• Practiced law as a farm credit attorney while developing wine expertise
• Married Patricia Etzel (1969), who would become instrumental in his business

Parker credits his wife with encouraging him to pursue wine criticism professionally when she saw his extensive wine notes and realized his passion could become a career.

Timeline:

• 1978: Launched The Wine Advocate newsletter (originally The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate)
• 1982: Called the '82 Bordeaux vintage a "vintage of the century" while critics remained skeptical—proved right, establishing his credibility
• 1983: Left law practice to focus on wine full-time
• 1984: Introduced 100-point rating scale
• 1987: Awarded France's Chevalier in the Légion d'Honneur
• 1993: Published first Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide
• 1999: Awarded Officier in the Légion d'Honneur
• 2012: Began reducing tasting responsibilities
• 2019: Fully retired from wine reviewing
• 2019: Sold The Wine Advocate to Michelin Guide

At its peak, The Wine Advocate had 50,000 subscribers in 37 countries.

Parker's approach revolutionized wine criticism with its focus on consumer advocacy and independence.

Core principles:

• Complete independence: Never accepted advertising, trips, or gifts from wineries
• Transparency: Published detailed tasting notes explaining every score
• Consumer focus: Rated wines on pleasure, not prestige or tradition
• Accessibility: Made fine wine approachable for middle-class enthusiasts

Tasting preferences: Parker favored:

• Concentrated, fruit-forward wines
• Rich extraction and ripe tannins
• New oak influence (when balanced)
• Low acidity, high intensity

Critics argued this led to a "Parker style" that homogenized winemaking. Supporters countered he simply preferred well-made wines regardless of style.

Awards and honors:

• Chevalier, Légion d'Honneur (France, 1987)
• Officier, Légion d'Honneur (France, 1999)
• Honorary Italian knighthood (Grande Ufficiale)
• Cross of the Order of Merit (Portugal)
• Order of Agricultural Merit (France)
• Named "The Most Influential Wine Critic in the World" by The New York Times

Publications:

• Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide (7 editions, 1987-2008)
• Bordeaux: A Consumer's Guide (5 editions)
• The World's Greatest Wine Estates (2005)
• Wines of the Rhône Valley (1997)

Industry impact:

• His 90+ scores could add $20-50 to a bottle's price overnight
• Perfect 100-point scores became legendary, commanding 500%+ premiums

Parker's influence on wine is difficult to overstate. He democratized fine wine criticism and gave consumers confidence to trust their own palates.

Positive impacts:

• Raised quality standards across global wine regions
• Made producers accountable to consumers, not just trade
• Pioneered wine criticism as independent journalism
• Encouraged experimentation in emerging regions

Criticisms:

• "Parkerization" - accused of homogenizing wine styles
• California and Bordeaux wines became more extracted to earn high scores
• Traditional, high-acid European styles were allegedly penalized
• Some producers explicitly "made wines for Parker"

Legacy: Post-retirement, the wine world has fragmented. No single critic commands Parker's influence, and diverse voices now shape consumer preferences—perhaps his most lasting contribution.

The Wine Advocate (1978-2019) Bi-monthly newsletter reviewing 10,000+ wines per year at its peak. Famous for detailed tasting notes and the 100-point scale.

Notable 100-point wines reviewed:

• 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild
• 1990 Pétrus
• 2000 Château Margaux
• 2009 Château Haut-Brion
• 2005 Screaming Eagle
• Many Rhône wines, especially Château Rayas and Chapoutier

Books:

| Title | Year | Notes | |-------|------|-------| | Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide | 1987-2008 | 7 editions, 1,500+ pages | | Bordeaux | 1985 | Definitive regional guide | | Wines of the Rhône Valley | 1997 | His personal passion | | The World's Greatest Wine Estates | 2005 | 100 estates profiled |

eRobertParker.com Online database (2001-present) containing 300,000+ wine reviews. Now owned by Michelin.