I can't deny that he has influenced some of my purchasing decisions as have several other wine writers. From time to time I buy a wine which I simply do not have the opportunity to try beforehand. His opinion I find helpful although the scores less so but his is not the only opinion I seek. Nothing better than finding a great wine which has a RP low score

He is, in the end, an individual (or rather a team) and if you like the styles of wine he likes then great. I would have to agree however that it is a shame that there are winemakers who feel they have to create in the Parker style

Where I find him most helpful is in Rhone wines. He almost always seems to hit the spot (cf burgundy)

Jeff