ROBINSON VS PARKER

Published: 23 July, 2008

I do wish we could simply agree to differ,' was the restrained response of Jancis Robinson MW following allegations by Robert Parker that appeared to impune her integrity and imply she had a personal prejudice against the wines of Grard Perse. Robinson gave St Emilion's Chteau Pavie 12/20, calling it ridiculous... more reminiscent of late-harvest Zinfandel than red Bordeaux'. Parker wrote on his website: She has a lamentable and perplexing history of disliking not only all of Perse's wines, but virtually all of the garagiste wines of St Emilion', adding that her comments were very much in keeping with her nasty swipes at all the Pavies made by Perse'. Parker said Robinson's claim that she tasted the wine blind was funny', as Pavie is the only premier grand cru estate to use an antique form of bottle'. Robinson said the sample was not in a particularly heavy bottle', and she wasn't aware of any nasty swipes'. She then asked: Q: What's the difference between a nasty swipe and a critical tasting note? A: the former doesn't chime with the most powerful palate in the world while the latter does.'

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