Berrys calls Parker scores “bewildering”

30 April, 2009

Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK'S most revered wine merchant and a major buyer of Bordeaux's best wines, is concerned the Bordeaux 2008 en primeur campaign will end prematurely as a result of Robert Parker’s scores released today

Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Bordeaux buyer is concerned the Bordeaux 2008 en primeur campaign will end prematurely following the release of the influential American wine writer, Robert Parker’s scores in his Wine Advocate publication today (April 30).

Simon Staples, Berrys’ sales and marketing director, said: “I am really worried. The campaign is going well and now it could be stopped dead in its tracks if the chateaux price their wine as the result of an enormous Parker score and not to the market. The market dictates the wine prices, not Parker."

Staples said: “We won’t be able to offer the wines, hand-on-heart, to customers and the negociants will still buy them thinking we will sell them.” He claims to be “totally bewildered” at Parker’s verdict on some of the wines.

Berrys’ fine wine team was sceptical about Bordeaux 2008 but returned from the tastings earlier this month and were surprised at the quality of some of the wines.

“This is not a year to speculate and no-one else believes this vintage is outstanding,” he said. “Parker went crazy about 2003, on his own, and he missed 2005 when everyone loved it and now he is screaming about 2008, when we just think it was better than we had hoped for,” said Staples.

Sample scores from Berry Bros. & Rudd, Jancis Robinson MW and Robert Parker:

2008 Ch. Haut-Bailly

Berry's Score: 17/20

Jancis Score: 17/20

Parker Score: 95-97/100

2008 Ch. Palmer

BBR Score: 18.5/20.

Jancis Score: 18/20.

Parker Score: 95 -97 /100.

2008 Ch. Lafite-Rothschild

BBR Score: 17/20

Jancis Score: 17.5+/20