Has Robert Parker Ever Boxed?

A reader recently left a comment on a post which was put up prematurely, and then deleted. It was a great question, so I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge at this point.

A Thing of Beauty asks: Is there a boxed wine that Robert Parker has liked? What about Steve Tanzer?

I do have some info on ratings of some boxed wines in the serious wine press. Here are several boxed wines that have ratings from Wine Advocate (Robert Parker), Wine Enthusiast, Wine Report, and Wine Spectator (Steve Tanzer) (oops, correction - Tanzer not represented in this list - Thanks A Thing of Beauty).

• Black Box Chardonnay 2004, Wine Enthusiast 83
• Black Box Merlot 2003, Wine Enthusiast 84
• Delicato Shiraz, Wine Report 89
• Delicato Chardonnay, Wine Report 88
• Delicato Merlot, Wine Report 87, Wine Enthusiast 86, Wine Spectator 86 (Best Buy)
• Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003, Wine Advocate 86, Wine Spectator 87

The Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003 has gotten a lot of attention

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003

The Wine Spectator
Ripe, dark fruit flavors dominate this medium- to full-bodied red, with lovely chocolate pudding notes and smoky elements on the finish. Drink now through 2007. 20,000 cases made. Score: 87. —Kim Marcus, August 31, 2005.

The Wine Advocate
Available in a 3-liter bag-in-a-box, the 2003 Cuvee de Pena reveals plum and blackberry aromas. Light to medium-bodied and silky-textured, this excellent value (3 liters for $20 comes out to $5 a bottle!) displays spicy dark fruits intermingled with hints of cedar in its expressive character. Drink it over the next year. Score: 86. —Pierre Rovani, June 2005.

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003 - Market Fine Wine and Spirits - Wine and Spirit Retailer

Avec Restaurant in Chicago actually has the Cuvee 3 liter box on the wine list ($89)!! Dr. Vino says they are completely unabashed about it:

Eduard Seitan, Avec's co-owner and wine buyer, likes the wine so much he keeps three boxes on display at the bar. "I'm very proud of it," he said.

Dr. Vino's wine blog: Drinking inside the box

Does anyone out there know of any others that I've missed?

technorati tags: box, boxed, cask, wine, Robert Parker, Steve Tanzer, Advocate, Spectator, Cuvee de Pena