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A Hero’s Retirement…
For years, I have carefully watched and followed along as our world of wine rapidly grew before my very eyes. With incredible diligence, winemakers have altered and tweaked their techniques, much like a courteous tailor, in aim to provide an even broader spectrum of palates and styles for the world to enjoy. What one person may appreciate, another may not, and the never-ending quest to discover the many subtle layers of artistic balance and subtlety, have always remained at the forefront.
The next great thing to shake our incredible and vast “world of wine” will simply be the retirement of Robert M. Parker. To fathom yet honor this inevitability, one will certainly have to sit down, enjoy any old glass of Harlan Estate and put some serious thought into it. For what has been a thorough tenure, for many years we have turned to the voice and writings of a legendary icon to discover, learn, and debate his soliloquies. When is a wine ready? And why? Are these so called “lesser-rated” vintages really not worth tasting? If Mr. Parker gives a 96-100 point score, should we quickly then pay what is demanded, without even tasting it first? So what WILL happen when one of the most influential resources in our business “throws in the towel?” It will be interesting to see where we will go and to who we will possibly turn to. The future of our most precocious commerce and its evolution will unfold in front of our very eyes. Will the consumers personal preferences continue to divide or will winemakers gear their stylistic artistry for the palate that then fills those giant shoes?
I have often heard people comment on how much they feel his opinions have been crucial to their growth both professionally and educationally. I have then watched others repeatedly question his judgments both verbally and aggressively. Consumers seem to be dividing to one side of some “fictitious” fence of preference these days. Over the last ten years it is safe to say consumption has reached and all time high and with the popularity of wine spreading like wildfire, the extreme focus on education has been crucial throughout. And naturally the more we all learn, the more critical we become. I have heard consumers specifically ask for big, inky, extracted, and/or “jammy” wines deep with long maceration periods, and then those who simply detest too much usage of “new” oak and wines that are too high in alcohol. They assume a more natural character and “earthiness” in a wine to be a more delicate approach to the final results, offering a softer and more balanced outcome. Here is our more progressively dividing market.
So moving forward how do we create a future without a fearless leader to depend on for advice or scores. Do we know enough now that we can depend on our own individual likes and dislikes? One thing I have always loved most about this profound industry is that wine is colossally subjective. What one person may appreciate, another may not, but this never-ending quest to discover the subtle nuances and layers of the glass before us, balance and subtlety, have always remained at the forefront. Perhaps yes, the market and consumers appetite may change but awareness and education should be our goal first and foremost. Providing constant tutelage in all aspects of our trade will help our primary focus and in a subtle and powerful way, we can possibly, just possibly, help shift our incredible world of wine in the many ways that we appreciate the most.
And so I raise my glass to you, Mr. Robert M. Parker, for the many years you have exhausted with the tireless promotion and extensive marketing of our exceptional business. If wine interest weren’t at such an advanced stage today, the chances of my place and many others, in this most providing business, may have never materialized. Although sometimes we may not see eye to eye, our motivation and intentions are more or less, the same. To educate, grow, observe and promote, will undoubtedly be our most advantageous journey in the years to come. Through thick and thin, and medium to full, know that your dedication and exorbitant effort has helped us all to open up our cellars, and our hearts, to this most amazing passion. Because just maybe, that one publication you meticulously created, encouraged us to take part in some special tasting or even spend a sunny afternoon in a vineyard with a winemaker. Without your encouragement over the years, we may have never thought to get there. How our palates may differ, we shall see no consequence.
Enjoy your retirement, whenever you decide it should begin. You deserve it!
-Patrick Watson
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