Irregular Update
Sydney Time
Copyright © Ric Einstein 2009
Welcome to this week's Irregular Update. Although the Tour Diaries have one final and very special Chapter to go, I have had interrupt regular transmission because of staff shortages. Brian was inconsiderate enough to go on holidays for a few weeks and has not been available to proof read it, so it will be up next week.
They say the sound of the gunshot that killed President Kennedy was heard around the world within six minutes. That had nothing on the wine "situation" I outlined last week. The email that was the cause of my writing the short Snippet, How to Sell Fine Wines to Top Restaurants circulated through the wine business (and to some consumers) faster than a bushfire fanned by a force ten wind. The reaction by both the public and the those in the wine business has been staggering. Deborah Gray summed up the situation brilliantly with her comments, so if you have not seen the feed back, you should check it out. Bert Werden, a Melbourne Fine Wine retailer received a copy of the original email from sixteen people! Bloody amazing; to say the least.
For the record, the players have been publically named by one writer, and a formal apology has been written by the winery at the centre of the storm. However, I have no intention of naming names as the people involved have suffered enough grief already. Writing the story was never meant to cause the players trouble personally; just to highlight an incredible situation. Judging by the reaction, the industry felt the same way.
Further comment also came in on the snippet, Parkers Secret is Out. I would hazard a guess that this has been Parkers greatest public misjudgement, and whilst it is far from a big deal, it shows we are all human. How Parker got that one so wrong is incredible.
This week article is the annual book review of James Halliday 2009 Wine Companion which has just been released. When ever I pick up a publication like this one, my beady little eyes focus in a few things that make wonder if the author was smoking funny unfiltered cigarettes when they were tasting some of the wines. Then I question the use of the 100 point system and all sorts of other things. This book was no different, yet its still worth buying. Absolutely and without doubt! That may sound strange given my comments, but the article will explain why. It can be found here.
Some new Tasting Notes have been added. The recently released Tim Adams 2006 Aberfeldy, as well as four really interesting drops from Burge Family are featured. They can be found here.
The draft of the final Chapter of this Tour Diary is now complete. It's a fairly big Chapter and basically only covers one winery and its winemakers. It will be very interesting to see the reaction that this, the Second Book End generates. It is a unique presentation but you will have to wait till next week for more.
The News section has been almost dead again this week. Stories of interest include...
-
Top stores keep wine too warm: Decanter
-
Turning water into wine
-
Going green pays dividends in Canada for Banrock Station
-
Napa takes Bottle Shock to its heart
Those stories and more can be found here.
This weeks wine quote. "When men drink, then they are rich and successful
and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a
beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever." -
Aristophanes c. 450 - 385 B.
Until next week .... Cheers Ric
If you have received this from a friend and wish to subscribe,
Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008