Robert M. Parker, Jr. (born July 23, 1947) is a leading U.S. wine critic with an international influence. He rates the wines on a 100-point scale and publishes the tasting notes in his newsletter The Wine Advocate.

Robert Parker's rating system employs a 50-100 point quality scale which is explaned here bellow:

96-100:
An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90-95:
An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.

80-89:
A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.

70-79:
An average wine with little distinction except that it is a soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

60-69:
A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor, or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.

50-59:
A wine deemed to be unacceptable

Wine Spectator is a leading Wine Magazine with an international influence. The Magazine rates the wines on a 100-ponint scale. Wine Spectator editors review more than 15,000 wines each year in blind tastings. Every issue of Wine Spectator magazine contains from 400 to more than 1,000 wine reviews with detailed tasting notes and analysis. We set stringent standards for ourselves and rely on the proven ability and experience of our editors as tasters and critics. The following information outlines the guidelines we follow in order to maintain the integrity of our tastings.

Wine Specatator’s rating system employs a 50-100 Point quality scale which is explaned here bellow:

95-100 Classic: a great wine

 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style

 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities

 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine

 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws

 50-74 Not recommended

Parker and Wine Spactator are considerated to have a noticeable impact on:
• the profession of wine critics, by stressing the need for independence from the wine business
• consumers' buying habits, by introducing his now famous 100-point rating system
• the quality of the wines produced
• the prices of wines sold on the market