The Proust Q&A: Robert Parker

Auspiciously born in one of the most revered Bordeaux vintages in recent history – 1947 – before entering the wine world, Robert M. Parker Jr worked for a decade as an attorney in Baltimore, leaving law in 1984 to become a full-time wine writer.

His passion for wine was ignited in the late ‘60s during a visit to Alsace, which spurred him to produce his own consumer wine guide. The first issue of The Wine Advocate was sent out in 1978 free of charge to fewer than 600 people from mailing lists bought from major wine retailers. Today, TWA has over 50,000 subscribers in 37 countries.

Described in a 1999 Los Angeles Times profile piece as “the most powerful critic of any kind, anywhere,” Parker made an early call on the 1982 vintage, which did much to propel him into the limelight as the go-to Bordeaux critic. Having become popular for his 100-point scale, which is still slavishly followed, during the ‘90s and early noughties his influence over the wine world was so great, certain winemakers were accused of making wines to deliberately suit his palate, which favours bold, rich, ripe flavours.

In 2001 Parker’s nose and palate were allegedly insured for US$1m. In late 2012, he sold a major stake in TWA to Singaporean investors for a reported $15m and stepped down as editor-in-chief, appointing Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW as his successor. Parker continues to cover Bordeaux and northern California for TWA and erobertparker.com, and heads to London this month where he will host a press conference on 25 February with his TWA colleagues and new owner Soo Hoo Khoon Peng. He lives Maryland with his wife Patricia, daughter Maia, and troop of basset hounds and English bulldogs.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Great wines, great cuisine and dear friends together at the table.