Originally Posted by clover

At this point, Miller just has to go for RMP to maintain any semblance of credibility. These "Miller-gate" issues, if nothing else, have exposed his rating methodology and independence to be severely lacking, to say the least. I actually think Miller was duped in this case (the importer or brand owner slipped him higher quality wine that what was eventually released as Sierra Carche), but to sit for 10 months on the evidence sent him by "his biggest fan" (Kenney) is unexplainable. Not that Miller hasn't offered some incredibly lame excuses on the BB.

As to the Sierra Carche issue (Carche-gate?), that one is REALLY going to take some 'splaining by the winemaker, importer, retailer. The latest response, allegedly from the winemaker, is that they "accidentally" bottled some higher quality juice in one production run and, go figure, that happened to be the one that Miller was given to taste.

After the rating (96) came out, they did more bottlings of other juice that was crap and sold it as Carche hoping to get away with it. I know..I'm very cynical..but this brand is owned and was created by Guy Anderson Wines, a large UK based "brand creator" for wines. I think, if enough objective investigation is done (a big IF), that it will turn out that GAW tried to capitalize on the rating and, at the very least, had horrendous quality control procedures leading to releasing wine that even Miller has called "undrinkable".

The reactions on the Parker BB are getting nastier including one that coins a new Parker rating for the wine.... "Undrinkable; Rating 96!".

Originally Posted by slawecki

when the '88(maybe 89) burgundy came out, parker was the only person working at parker, inc(other than mom, who typed the newsletter, mailed it, and answered the phone). parker gave a very good review to the '88 barrel samples(i do not know where he tasted them). when the wines came out, he thought them grossly inferior, and did state so. in fact he then rated the '88's far below anyone else. his reviews and comments killed '88 sales in the usa. (i bought 47 cases of the '88 as distressed merchandise. most was grand cru).

it greatly enhanced his rep, but also got him thrown out of burgundy. i do not think he has ever reviewed burgundy wines since. one of the main reasons to hire Pierre Rogavani(sp) was to have a burgundy reviewer.

miller should have shouted immediately, particularly since parker's action was done so famously.

Bordeaux, by the way, is a particularly problematical area, as many chateau grade by barrel, and maybe mix a few in to stretch product. certainly the best barrel is used for the trade tasting.