2007-04-04 THE SPINE OF WINE

It is said that Robert Parker can make a millionaire out of you with his mouth. When he spits out the wine from his mouth it can either spiral you into a different stratosphere or can bury your winery for life. That he is more influential that perhaps most people in the world is clear when you see his influence spanning Tennessee and Tokyo. The Emperor of Wine by Elin McCoy is a tribute to the undisputed czar of the cabernet. It traces his modest beginnings from meatloaf to Michelin starred restaurants. Even today, a score of over 90 from Parker can set cash registers ringing over a humble Riesling. Interesting, Parker owes his heady rise to the top to his love for Pat, his girlfriend who lured him from the boondocks of America to the cafes of France. It is another matter that Parker to this day is married to the woman. The book is an interesting take on a charismatic and often arrogant oenophile. But for those who have even a passing love for the Lafite, The Emperor of Wine is mandatory reading. The bouquet of the book is heady, the body wholesome and the flavour just right. Knowing Parker, the book would have got a 90 plus. Uncork it and pour it into your library.