Comments on: Vinofreakism: shepherd vignerons, sommeliers, acid & tooth enamel

By: Baffled by a wine list? BYO Chateauneuf | Dr Vino's wine blog

Baffled by a wine list? BYO Chateauneuf | Dr Vino's wine blog — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:50:54 +0000

[...] After visiting a Philly BYOB, Robert Parker once let an apparent deep-seated contempt for sommeliers flow free, dubbing them defenders of “vinofreakism.” [...]

By: Philippe

Philippe — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:19:46 +0000

Sad really. One feels the insecurity of walls closing in on creeping irrelevance. Maybe he’ll take on Rosie O’Donell next?

By: bb

bb — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:20:32 +0000

Not that I would ever want to side with Parker, but I think that most of us have had someone try to foist one of these on us at one time or another. Just because someone can make something and bottle it, doesn’t mean that we should have to drink it. I once had someone try to sell me non-alcoholic scotch — case closed.

By: someone

someone — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 04:39:28 +0000

ditto ian.

By: Taylor Eason

Taylor Eason — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:41:48 +0000

This rant cracks me up… and makes me wonder how in touch he is with the average consumer?

I like Ian’s comment: “I suspect a large proportion of his US-based detractors used to buy his books and follow his guidance in the past. Now I suspect a speeding up of the trend for wine drinkers to find their own way in the wine world.”

Which makes unbiased and anti-snob wine bloggers and educators like myself (and Dr. Vino) even more important now. Keep talking, Bob.

By: Ahli Anggur

Ahli Anggur — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:57:53 +0000

How about food freaks? A wine with decent acidity is food-friendly; a Parker-approved overripe fruit bomb may make a nice sipping wine, but the only cuisine it complements is barbeque.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:37:58 +0000

Hey Bob, no one has more fun than a vinofreak. Suit yourself.

By: Ian S

Ian S — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:48:45 +0000

One has to wonder about Parker.

He knows that this rant will reinforce the view amongts many that he’s become yet more bigoted in his views and even more strident in his expression of them.

Too rich and famous to care? As out of touch as professional sportsmen? Or just the argumentative / confrontational nature of his legal background? It might be the latter, but if so, why does he seem to be more and more troll-like these days?

I suspect a large proportion of his US-based detractors used to buy his books and follow his guidance in the past. Now I suspect a speeding up of the trend for wine drinkers to find their own way in the wine world. A cold reality dawns when you realise your guru is a bit of a prat!

I do feel for LP-B, AG, DS and NM, who all seem decent, considered and reasonable.

regards

Ian

By: Debbie The Wine Lady

Debbie The Wine Lady — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:21:14 +0000

I love to hear Robert Parker rant! We’ve obviously found something that pushes his buttons. And it reminds me of a story I read about Really Natural Wines (or something like that). NO intervention was allowed, so the white wine were cloudy and brown and the reds were subject to all kinds of weird bacterial issues. Just like Robert Parker, I thought, “why bother?”

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:16:54 +0000

Sorry Uncle Bob. Some of us like small production winemakers that are using interesting techniques and forgotten varietals. We maybe even like gulpable light bodied wines that are best served chilled (The horror!). Sorry they are way off of your holier than though radar. I will run to store and buy a “standard” Bordeaux now to get back in line.