Comments on: The buyer of The Wine Advocate’s connection to wine retail

By: Zach

Zach — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:48:54 +0000

I think this is an equally splendid death of the “Points Era” as was it’s birth. It goes without saying that a lot of emotion surrounds Parker (arguably the “Father of Points”), both before and after the sale of his share, but I think the world of wine lovers has a lot to look forward to. Hopefully these events, and the lack of clarity surrounding them, shows the otherwise information-starved that any of what these big publications espouse has biased money behind it.

By: The Robert Parker Train Wreck, and A Train Wreck of a Wine | Mike Steinberger's Wine Diarist

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:09:50 +0000

[...] that claim was completely false and easily refuted. (The fact that the wife of the main investor brazenly refuted the claim will be seen as emblematic of the entire fiasco.) Why, they will ask, did Parker [...]

By: John Glas

John Glas — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 19:34:16 +0000

Honestly with Cellar Tracker in full swing do we need Parker or others to help us with buying wine. I look at CT first and see what some of my favorite reviewers are thinking of a wine prior to worrying about WS or Parker. Tanzer I still have respect for.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 17:23:34 +0000

Money always gets in the way.

The tax law change is certainly a reasonable argument, as this deal appeared to come out of left field.

Combine that with Parker spoonfeeding the story break to Lettie Teague, of the WSJ, only to later bash her for posting lies, leaves us to wonder how much Parker knew about his buyers. It would not be uncommon for a broker, in this case, Goldman Sachs, to leave out some important info about the buyer to the seller, but Parker, who was supposedly a lawyer 35 years ago, should really know better about due diligence, if that is what occurred here.

Nevertheless, if he already cashed his check, does he really care anymore? The man can drink any 3L of Chateauneuf du Pape that he desires, anyday, anytime.

That is probably what he really wanted here…an easy out, with some quick cash. Good on him.

I just wish that he did not sell the WA to an importer, as it appears that he did.

By: Jack Bulkin

Jack Bulkin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:47:42 +0000

Very interesting Tyler. The sale seems like it was likely a hurried transaction that did not have adequate due diligence nor safeguards implemented. Maybe the pending tax law increases that will likely change after next week were more important at the time to Mr. Parker than his “alleged” Code of Ethics that he would never advertise nor have arms length dealings with the trade. I wish that there was real transparency about these issues on Wine Advocate but if that did ever occur, it would be a first. I give Mr. Parker a 64/100 for his effort in disclosure and transparency here. I do wish him luck for a long and illustrious career and have no issue with his right to monetize his many years of wine criticism. My only warning to his buyers is to be more transparent than they and Parker have thus far demonstrated about this sale and their relationship to wine sales, otherwise that investment will not succeed.