santiago wrote:

> What a tough subject. To be frank, I dislike the behavior of Miller and
> Squires. I have always had a good perception of Robert Parker, even if I
> did not agree with all his tasting notes or his ratings. I thought he
> actually was a consumer's advocate.

That has always been the take on Arpee: you may or may not agree with
his judgments, you may or may not like his personal character (those who
know anything of it) but all basically agree that he is (was?)
scrupulously careful about avoiding conflicts of interest in his
reviewing. It has also been pointed out, though, that in recent years
he's showered lavish praise on certain personalities who also routinely
garner high points in TWA, casting into question perhaps his untainted
character.

>
> But then I think he made a mistake in his expansion plans. If he was the
> leading critic for Bordeaux, the Rhone and California, so be it. But I do
> not see the need to relax the reputation of the publication trying to cover
> new wine areas. Reputation, and not a palate, is the main asset of a wine
> critic.

I agree completely.

>
> World is very interesting reading Parker for Bordeaux (I do not really care
> for California for lack of availability, nor the Rhone for the style),
> Allen Meadows for Burgundy (though he is quite predictable) and I would pay
> for a publication by David Schildknecht about Germany, Champagne and Loire.
> In fact, my bet is that David will leave TWA to start his own bulletin some
> day.

You may well be right: David's coverage in TWA has apparently descreased
since his early days, leading one to question how much he wishes to
remain there.

>
> The critics of Spanish wines are so American that they do not make much
> sense. Guess the value that would have for the American market, a Spanish
> critic judging California wines by the stilistic standard of Australian
> Spoofulated Fruit Bombs.

Dr. Miller's critiques have certainly raised more than a few eyebrows.
Who are your favorite critics of Spanish wines, Santiago?

Mark Lipton
(6 days and counting until Barcelona)


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