Only one nose, one tongue and one brain will make the wine market. Those of Robert Parker

Robert Parker is without contestation the most influential person in the fine wine industry.  Some much so that his notes published in his newsletter the Wine Advocate are one of the major settings for the prices of Bordeaux wines.  It is absolutely vital to understand his nose and his values when it comes to wine, as a movement of a couple of points on this scale can result in significant price increases.

He made his name through the legendary Bordeaux Vintage 1982.  He almost alone spotted its early greatness while others dismissed it needless to say his opinion trumped the market and now his reputation is largely unchallenged.  Although it is worth being aware that most notably he looks for heightened concentrations of fruit and higher levels of alcohol.  This has culminated in him receiving the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite in 1993 and the Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'honneur in 1997, which was later promoted to Officer of the Order in 2005.

Robert Parker has since pioneered he 100 point ranking system, providing as he believes more scope and flexibility for critical analysis:

96-100:
An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this calibre are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90 - 95:
An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.

80 - 89:
A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavour as well as character with no noticeable flaws.

70 - 79:
An average wine with little distinction except that it is a soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

60 - 69:
A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavour, or possibly dirty aromas or flavours.

50 - 59:
A wine deemed to be unacceptable.