How History Explains the Present

From the past two classes, we've seen the reliance on how ratings and "the clown Parker" according to Peter have literally formed a massive movement and trend around wine sales in the past several decades. People are now "teaching to the test" creating a homogenizing effect for wine and not innovating, because they simply want to sell the retail score as part of the story; "A 90 point wine by Robert Parker" sells! And when a customer goes to the store to choose from a wide selection, they feel there is a lacking objective judgement and the point score is a great way to be able to decide!

Even before Parker emerged in the 70s, the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UCDAVIS established a 20 point system, noting that points would be awarded or subtracted based on having specific flaws; Harry Waugh would say this is a "16 point wine" and people would listen! However, everyone's sensitivities are very different and based on character, varietal blend, elegance, breed, and finesse, wines should not be categorized, but rather have flexibility to understand why an 80 to someone is a 95 to someone else. While there is no evidence, there is an interesting viewpoint that those that wish to be evaluated or rated, have an incentive to do everything they can to inflate their status, taste, and likability factor. How they do so is ambiguous, but maybe this is good after all because the consumer is the ultimate benefactor.