Kudos to Bob Parker!

WINE TALK
1

Yeah, that one. Reading through his BDX retrospective stuff, he has significantly downgraded 1982 Petrus from 98 points to 93 points. A wine that I have only consumed twice, I never quite understood the fascination and I am glad to see it lowered, although, truthfully, if he put it at 89 points, I would be happier (except for the fact that we have a magnum in the store that I cannot get rid of).

In addition, he kept a low score on 1982 Trotanoy, a very “underrated” and absolutely delicious 1982.

I am glad to see that the then and now section on BDX was somewhat interesting, while the Aussie one was just an effort for him to reconvince himself that he did not over rate those wines, despite what 98% of wine drinkers think.

For anyone curious, about 50% of the Aussie oldies received 95 points or higher, while 35% of the 1982 and 1990 BDX wines did. Kinda sad. But I am “happy” to see a lower score on 1982 Petrus.

2

1982 Petrus has been selling on the vintage’s reputation since 1986. The wine never lived up to the hype but it never needed to since Vegas has probably gone through 7,000 cases even though only 3,500 were produced. As far as the Aussie stuff, that’s great…if he likes them so much, maybe he should get people to trade all the 1982 and 1990 Bordeaux for some of those to pile up in his cellar.

3

What I always love is that he never drinks the Aussie or Spanish stuff in his Hedonist Gazette reviews, but is constantly drinking Rhone, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Piedmont. It is fairly obvious what is in that man’s cellar.

Max,

You have any 1982 Trot for me? I got some 2002 Marquis Philips #9!

4

$16995. [shock.gif]

5

I was surprised (and troubled) with his note/downgrade of the '90 Evangile, though. That wine was spectacular when I had it in November of '95, my favorite in a tasting that also included Angelus, Cos, La Conseillante and other quality wines, so it will definitely be a distressing development if the wine has gone to pieces [cry.gif]

6

No Trot for you! But I just traded all my 1982 Pichon Lalande for some Torbreck. Seems like a no brainer to me.

7

Had the 1990 Evangile last weekend and was not blown away. It was far overshadowed by the 1989 Montrose.

8

How did he like 1990 Pichon Baron, Poyfere and Grand Puy Lacoste? The only wines of that vintage I own…

9

No Trot for you! But I just traded all my 1982 Pichon Lalande for some Torbreck. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[rofl.gif]

10

And he upgraded Gloria 82 from death bed to 91 pts. which is completely correct as this wine from a cold cellar still drinks exceptionally well.

11

I actually traded my 82 Pichon Lalande for 83 La Chapelle—but that was a while ago, haven’t had Bordeaux in the picture for some time.

last bottle of 82 Petrus I helped to drink was satisfying, but I can remember more rewarding Bordeaux.

and 2002 Les Amis, the ancient vine grenache concoction from Torbreck, is one of the most exceptional wines I’ve ever drunk, thought so even though I was selling Torbreck at that point in my career. simply extraordinary, and from a textural perspective rather like “confit of wine.”

and stuck in this here literary masturpiece is a recent Run Rig note:

Wine ~ Wein ~ Vino ~ Vin: ...strange breadfellows: austr(al)ia ~ part II" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cheers!

btw I used to sell Sine Qua Non too, but never developed the affection for it that I still have for Torbreck. It’s a taste issue, after all.

12

How about the increase of Ch Le Gay from 92 to 97+, very interesting

13

I traded a near mint, 1982 Topps Cal Ripken RC for a near mint, 1985 Topps Dwight Gooden RC. A decision I regret to this day. headbang

14

Dan:

I have asked on his board several times on retasting some of his high scoring Spanish wines a few years after release but have been ignored. It will be even nicer if that could be done in a blind setting with a few wines that he under rated but I guess that will never happen since he does not have anything to win and too much to lose.

SALUDos,
José

15

No one mentioned the 82 Cheval plummet yet. With a cute little note saying drink over the next 4 to 6 years. This was what he said 9 years earlier, so much for triple digits…

“When the 1982 Cheval Blanc’s component parts become totally in sync, it will be capable of meriting a three-digit rating. Anticipated maturity: now (?)-2015.”

Dan, I completely agree with you on the Aussie reviews.

16

I was most surprised by his downgrade of the “Benchmark” Bordeaux in the auction world, the '82 Lafite. Wonder what that new 97+ score will do to auction values for that wine…

17

Brian,

When considering the stupid prices paid for a 90 or 92 points Carruades these days, I would say that '82 Lafite with 97+ will probably not be affected at all. 1982 Petrus still sells for big bucks and the wine is not that good.

18

Therein lies the problem. He is never wrong until he says he was wrong, which has…never happened, as far as I can tell.

This wines should have been tasted in a blind format to give them truer marks, especially when opening up 62 wines in one sitting with 7 Francophiles, as he says. I could not think of a better use of a blind format. I guess this did not fall into the “taste blind whenever possible” criterion. I await his next blind tasting for the Wine Advocate…how long has it been? 25 years?

19

I had a bunch of these (they were unbelievably cheap at the time) and enjoyed them, but my stash of 82 Gloria is long gone. Interesting to see the WA note and your thoughts.

20

years and years ago I had my first stockboy job in a wine shop, and the sommelier from our local Ritz Carlton was in buying a six pack—said that Baron Rothschild had been staying with them for a week, and he drank almost exclusively Gloria.