Man what a train wreck.

Gary and I exchanged emails. His quarterback looks much better than mine, even though we still squeezed out a win. It looks like we might set something up after my harvest season, which would work out great because I want to get to New York and New Jersey to visit.

Gary has the hardest job in the wine business. He sells wine. I tell that to everyone I meet who sells wine, from waiters at a restaurant to stock boys to store owners. Selling wine is hard.

Gary's found a way to do it that he's passionate about and he's found a way to bring wine to more people and to make it less intimidating and snobby. I admire that. That's one of the goals we set out with when we started making wine.

I'm not a master of wine, or a master debater (for Seaquem) for that matter, or do I consider myself any form of a critic, but I have put everything I've got into making wine and making it fun and unintiminating for people. I do hope I get to meet Gary, I'm looking forward to it. He's got skin in the game, and passion. His style is differnt from mine for sure, but I'll take substance over style every time.

As a fan of what both of you are doing, great post!

quote:

I'm not a master of wine, or a master debater

Now you've gone ahead and done it. You've brought Mark Squires into this thread. Unbelievable.

Moo

Parker hasn't ditched this turkey yet?

Paul

Wine retailing is easy...Jay Miller 95 point wines sell like hotcakes...we all just sit back and count the money...

quote:

Originally posted by NY Retailer:
Paul

Wine retailing is easy...Jay Miller 95 point wines sell like hotcakes...we all just sit back and count the money...

I assume there is some tongue in cheek here. However, I have to ask: do his ratings still sell, particularly with Australia?

I'm liking you more and more Paul.

quote:

Originally posted by Keeno:

quote:

Originally posted by NY Retailer:
Paul

Wine retailing is easy...Jay Miller 95 point wines sell like hotcakes...we all just sit back and count the money...

I assume there is some tongue in cheek here. However, I have to ask: do his ratings still sell, particularly with Australia?

While you wait for actual ITB opinion, anecdotal experience (watching highly rated Aussies and Spanish reds go fast) tells me they do. Of course, I rarely, if ever, see the score attributed to Miller. It's Robert Parker's WA or just WA.

All you need to do is look at the OCEANS of highly rated Aussie and Spanish wine available on discount to see that they, in fact, do not sell.

I am not sure where Tim lives, in every part of the country I see and hear about, people are swimming in this stuff. Australia is too far gone to recover. Spain is next.

quote:

Originally posted by NY Retailer:
All you need to do is look at the OCEANS of highly rated Aussie and Spanish wine available on discount to see that they, in fact, do not sell.

I am not sure where Tim lives, in every part of the country I see and hear about, people are swimming in this stuff. Australia is too far gone to recover. Spain is next.

with one notable exception.....Sierra Carche should do well for years to come!!

And Gary did recommend that one...

This is too bad, no need for venom. Lets all just meet in a few months somewhere and bring wine and get to know each other better. This is wine!!!! if it can't be fun and nice and awesome then we are in REAL trouble I am so sorry to cause any stir, I do what I love, love my family and rout for my Jets, I understand the arguments and I know when and if we get to meet some will become clearer! Stay well!

Who says we're not having fun?

OK, in an effort to inject a little fun into the thread, here are some spoofs of Gary on You Tube.

#1 (clicky)

#2 (clicky)

#3 (clicky)

quote:

Originally posted by NY Retailer:
And Gary did recommend that one...

Daniel, btw, should tell you that I've been following the SC threads over on Berserker....and really respected everything you brought to the table on the Sierra Carche issue. Kudos!

Secondly....check this out....I think it's quite funny. Was doing a search on WineSearcher this morning...which brought me to the home page of a Retailer in White Plains. Again, this is the home page.... check out near the bottom...thought you would appreciate.

http://www.grapesthewineco.com/index.shtml

apologize for the drift...

Never sold a btl, SS Chris...thank you for the kind words.

I only did what I felt should have been done by others regarding this issue.

FYI, Ian, Brandon, and Gary from WL, whom I respect each and everyone of them, were all invited to the Sierra Crapche luncheon. None could attend for various reasons.

I cannot wait for the next time Miller reviews more wines from Well Oiled Wine Co to see what kind of response they get in the marketplace.

quote:

Originally posted by NY Retailer:
Never sold a btl, SS Chris...thank you for the kind words.

I only did what I felt should have been done by others regarding this issue.

FYI, Ian, Brandon, and Gary from WL, whom I respect each and everyone of them, were all invited to the Sierra Crapche luncheon. None could attend for various reasons.

I cannot wait for the next time Miller reviews more wines from Well Oiled Wine Co to see what kind of response they get in the marketplace.

Wait....is that you and your store?? I honestly didn't know. If so, please forgive my ignorance. Whether it's you or somebody else, I laughed out loud when I stumbled across it.

btw, I cracked one of my SC's about a 5 weeks ago (after reading the WB thread along w/ one that was started on WLTV Forum) and had similar notes to what you guys had at the lucheon..... horrible.

Yes, that is my mug on the homepage!

Gary V Ate my Baby!! Number 12!

wow...quite the posts...

I use to wait with anticipation the publications of Kermit Lynch and he was a retailer / importer. His words were not less trusted by me but I did learn to calibrate his writing with my palate. Then a visit and a chat with his staff would confirm / change my decision. Kermit Lynch was not brash and I've not seen any critic of him. Same with the German wine importer, Rudi West. I love reading his reports as well. I knew that they were selling wine but had no issues with that. It is certainly above board.

I agree that the email advertising can be a bit much but, like him or not, GV is doing some good things to bring good wine to people at great prices. WL offers wines everyday that ship for free. Some of these are only OK but there have been some really nice bottles offered in the past. It doesn't matter if you buy one bottle or a case, it still ships for free. Also, starting last week, WL launched Cinderella Wine. This site offers a new wine every day at a ridiculously low price. Only beginning the 2nd week of this site, WL has already offered a 2000 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Riserva Granbussia for $99 and today's offer, which unfortunately is already sold out, was a 2005 Patrick Lesec Bargeton Chateauneuf du Pape that sold for a mere $40. These prices are insane! In addition to the above, WL has numerous free shipping offers in which any wine that they sell can be shipped for free – no minimums, singles, mixed cases, or whatever. I rarely tune into WLTV anymore but will occasionally check to see if any wines of interest to me are being talked about. However, I will continue buying from WLTV as they offer good prices and customer service.