Late edit and FYI: Disappointingly, Mark Squires unfriended me on Facebook minutes after publishing this post here and sharing the link on Facebook. To Mark Squires: Sorry if you were offended by anything I have mentioned here, it was not my intention. Please refriend me on Facebook, I enjoy the information you share there. Open […]
Reconnecting with Cotes du Ventoux in New Hampshire
With the 2006 in distribution and the 2007 releasing, stumbling across the 2005 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses at a local New Hampshire State Liquor store last week was a pleasant surprise. I grabbed the remaining 4 bottles on sale at $10.99, ignoring the half dozen 04s and asked for more 05. With the New Hampshire State Commission selling the 04, 05, […]
Bordeaux Sucker Punch Ruins Wine Independence for All
Catching up on some overdue reading during the long Fourth of July holiday weekend, I was struck by a disconnect between two really interesting pieces of material. Wine enthusiasts face significant challenges that threaten a pronouncement of clipped shackles found in the primarily good spirited and reflective recent Alder Yarrow “Declaration of Independence” . Enthusiasts continue to be repressed by a profound problem, overlooked in Yarrow’s celebration of expanding wine availability and information sharing, and inadvertently demonstrated in Robert […]
90 Points of Costco Wine
It seems legitimate to me that Costco, operating at an incredibly low 0.2% retail margin, seeks maximum turns and sales volume for its entire inventory. As a big box, non specialty retailer chasing lowest possible SGA expense in a declining sales environment, Costco leans on merchandising advantages like brand names and informational signage as strategy elements to turbo power sales volume. So, if Costco wine […]
WSJ Misses in Coverage of Wine Advocate and Industry Problems
David Kesmodel jumped on the “Attack Parker and His Wine Advocate Ethics” bandwagon in today’s May 26 Personal Journal section of the Wall Street Journal. That is not surprising in this code riddled era of business and media coverage. Of course, this is a matter that must be settled between wine aficionados and Mr. Parker. Wine Advocate […]
One Robert Parker
Robert Parker and his Wine Advocate have shaped wine markets and consumer behavior more than any other contemporary critical influence. The newsletter continues to fulfill its role as the most useful independent review source available. During the early years as the Wine Advocate cemented that position, Parker did all the tasting. Now, Parker relies on a wider network of regular contributors. The publication navigates a love/hate relationship with buyers […]