Renowned wine critic Robert Parker believes he has brought a "democratic view" to wine tasting.

His rise to pre-eminence was set against a backdrop of US wine drinkers being routinely "taken for a ride" when it came to purchasing Bordeaux Grands Crus such as Clos Fourtet and Chateau Cheval Blanc.

Speaking to the Herald Scotland, Parker explained why he did not pay homage to the prestige of the vineyards producing first growth wines purely on grounds of their status.

"If this wine's no good, I'm gonna say so," he noted, demonstrating the attitude that has seen many set him in stark contrast to the old guard of wine critics.

However, Parker's influence may be waning as a new generation of oenophiles begins to emerge, according to Bill Ward, writing an article for the Ventura County Star.

He indicated that the "tech-savvy generation" is using the internet to source news and views on the latest wines, taking advantage of user ratings of vintages across social media.