23
Daily Wine News: SMOKE
Posted by Wine News | Posted on 04-23-2012
| Posted inChristian Seely, the managing director of AXA Millésimes — which owns Château Pichon-Longueville and a host of other properties – does not think Chateau Latour’s decision to quit the En Primeur system “is the beginning of the end of the current system.”
Quebec’s SAQ, which has a monopoly on wine retail in the Canadian province, has responded to accusations that it paid James Suckling $24,000 last year. (Both parties denied any financial relationship.) If you can’t read the response (it’s in French), the agency has admitted to paying Suckling $18,000 in exchange for three videos. Total running time? Just over nine minutes.
“The Wine Advocate hired the firm of Spin, Misdirect, Obfuscate, Kneejerk and Evade (SMOKE) to investigate whether the conduct of Dr. Jay Miller had compromised the standards of independence expected by The Wine Advocate.” Another classic from the HoseMaster of Wine.
“The beautiful amphitheater of Apalta, along with other subregions of the Colchagua Valley, seems to be the perfect home to most of the so-called Bordeaux varietals, as well as Syrah.” In the Wall Street Journal, Jay McInerney visits Chile.
Jeff Siegel recently acquired “a copy of a report from an important U.S. distributor, detailing sales from March 2011 to March 2012 in the Dallas market.” The details are fascinating.
Jon Bonné has been “hearing word” of dramatic improvements in Chardonnay, “one that transcends both oceans of oak and the industrial plonk that killed Australia’s wine reputation in the first place.” So he tasted 20.
When French winemakers visit New York City, they eat at Christian DeLouvrier’s La Mangeoire. So contends Lettie Teague.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has unveiled several new road signs, alerting motorists to the fact that they’ve “entered a particular Virginia American Viticultural Area.”