tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post6534517979832124261..comments2024-02-25T02:50:53.858-08:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: Pardon Me, I Think My Dick Button is UndoneRon Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-48524960867604250352009-09-24T08:46:35.676-07:002009-09-24T08:46:35.676-07:00Charlie,
Least with hate mail you know people ar...Charlie,<br /> Least with hate mail you know people are listening to you. I did not read your comment as offensive but that might be because I read your comments on blogs all over the place and see that you don't really go after anyone...not even Gary V. I saw it as fun pokin and nuttin more. Ignore the hate mail like I ignore the vile pervy crap that gets sent to me...and speaking of which, Ron....Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-4203662415961301202009-09-24T08:17:21.607-07:002009-09-24T08:17:21.607-07:00Nice post. I especially enjoyed the full twisting ...Nice post. I especially enjoyed the full twisting dismount.el jefehttp://www.twistedoak.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-21681022313082928982009-09-24T08:01:08.998-07:002009-09-24T08:01:08.998-07:00HATE MAIL.
I have received a flurry of emails re...HATE MAIL. <br /><br />I have received a flurry of emails regarding my implied criticism of Dan Berger.<br /><br />So, let me set the record straight.<br /><br />My secret inside information about how to deal with Dan is this. <br /><br />We engage is active, rapid fire debate for about ten minutes (and those of you who know Dan also know that he has an opinion or two--and it turns out that I do too), and then I make him laugh.<br /><br />Humor. That's the secret. Don't take life so seriously. Drag out the old Hosemaster trick and lighten up. <br /><br />There are no rights and wrongs here--well, there are a few such as not drinking your DRC with a straw--so Dan and I enjoy the debate, tell each other we are wrong and then laugh a bit and tell ourselves how much fun it is being part of a business where people with intense passion can nonetheless come away from the debate with smiles on our faces.Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52542813303740107302009-09-23T00:01:50.874-07:002009-09-23T00:01:50.874-07:00The HMW says, "I've judged with many rema...The HMW says, "I've judged with many remarkable wine folks, from Frank Prial of the NY Times to Dan Berger to Nick Ponamareff of California Grapevine and, of course, your favorite, Andy Blue."<br /><br />Remarkable? I'll be the judge of that. <br /><br />Frank Prial--OK. I will give you that one.<br /><br />Berger? Did you say BERGER??<br /><br />Nick Ponamareff? Sadly, I have never tasted with him even though we started our rags at the same time and have maintained a friendship across three decades--a genuinely nice guy. <br /><br />Andy Blue--you know, when he lived up here, he used to taste with us, and we kind of got along. Over the years, though I have found him to grow increasinly pompous and self-important and he is no longer fun.<br /><br />Back to Berger. Someday, when I grow up, I am going to tell the world about Dan Berger. Until then, the truth remains a well-hidden secret. But, I know how to stop him dead in his tracks. I can actually make Dan Berger stop talking--but first we have to talk at double speed for about ten minutes, then I can slow him up.<br /><br />Catherine Fallis. The one and only. I like her, but I did have to tell her that she did not know what was talking about re the Pinot comments.<br /><br />And if you kept your breakfast down after 80 cheap Chardonnays, you deserve a medal. I will ask Berger to get you one.Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-23804712309922688042009-09-22T19:02:13.864-07:002009-09-22T19:02:13.864-07:00Hey Charlie,
The woman with an M.S. who was out o...Hey Charlie,<br /><br />The woman with an M.S. who was out of control was Catherine Fallis. Her last name says it all, really. I'm not worried about naming names, but since I coudn't remember most of the names of the other folks I was writing about I didn't want to single her out necessarily. But I've never seen such outrageously inappropriate and rude behavior before or since at a wine judging.<br /><br />I'm not opening a debate about the 100 point scale, just laughing at all the crap thrown at wine judgings by folks misusing the numbers scales. I just love the irony. You and CGCW are not folks who misuse your number system, you and your publication have enormous integrity, but most of the bloggers berating wine judgings are guilty of using wine ratings idiotically. <br /><br />What makes you think I had an empty stomach? Before judging I always eat an unusually large breakfast. Sometimes, after 80 cheap chardonnays, I can even keep it down.<br /><br />Judging is a strange and fun and unique experience, and I honestly love doing it. I am often chagrined about the results, but that's the nature of the beast. I've judged with many remarkable wine folks, from Frank Prial of the NY Times to Dan Berger to Nick Ponamareff of California Grapevine and, of course, your favorite, Andy Blue. Just hanging out with them is incredibly educational and very worthwhile. <br /><br />Wineries use the medal results for their own marketing. If the results were useless, judgings would go out of business. I just thought folks not in the biz might like a peek behind the curtains at what the competitions are like on the bad days.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-46478647194366395862009-09-22T18:28:38.193-07:002009-09-22T18:28:38.193-07:00One of these days, one of you bloggers is actually...One of these days, one of you bloggers is actually going to name the woman MS in question. Last year, someone complained about a woman MS at a Napa Valley tasting who complained that all the wines tasted like coca cola. I was at a tasting a couple of years ago when a woman MS complained that Russian River Valley and Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noirs were virtually indistinguishable.<br /><br />Since there are only five or six woman MS's, and a couple who live in CA, you have probably told us who she is. For my part, I am not naming names because she did pass the MS and one presumes she could identify something. I just have not figured out what yet.<br /><br />And did you really want to start the 100-point debate again, especially in the middle of a discussion of tasting 80 cheap Chardonnays on an empty stomach?Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-17013522644671059982009-09-22T09:42:27.092-07:002009-09-22T09:42:27.092-07:00HMW,
I give this post AND your Dick Button a trip...HMW,<br /><br />I give this post AND your Dick Button a triple gold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-5416111343415645842009-09-22T08:16:00.035-07:002009-09-22T08:16:00.035-07:00Hey Arthur,
I was pretty surprised not one of my ...Hey Arthur,<br /><br />I was pretty surprised not one of my four fellow judges had heard of Fiano. It's not even a particularly obscure grape from Italy, and, of course, is well-known for making the great wine of Arizona, Fiano di Javelina.<br /><br />My Gorgeous Samantha,<br /><br />So many wines are entered in some competitions that every panel is faced with daunting flights of cheap Chardonnay, really cheap Merlot, and, even worse, Blush wines! So I wasn't singled out. And, actually, it can be incredibly entertaining to taste the crap with good judges. There is a long list of wine commentary from judges suffering through bad wines that is pretty funny (Wouldn't surprise me if Anonymous 1 repeated a few for us).<br /><br />You should judge in a competition at least once. You and I on a panel would be wickedly fun. Though so much for concentrating on the wine...Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-73192026479884991852009-09-21T23:06:01.999-07:002009-09-21T23:06:01.999-07:00I am one of those who sees these wine competition ...I am one of those who sees these wine competition "exposes" as a bit of gotcha "journalism". Yes, there are idiot judges and idiot wine critics who are fallible and inconsistent because: 1) they don't know shit about wine, 2) can't smell and taste worth a shit, 3) have shitty tasting methodology, 4) have shit for rating criteria. Thus their opinions are shit.<br /><br />For example: "None of the other four judges had heard of Fiano." - <br />Well, that makes them doubly more qualified to judge than those sniping bloggers!<br /><br />Methinks that a double-gold judge oughta know their shit...Arthurhttp://www.winesooth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-61900322330172404842009-09-21T23:02:05.783-07:002009-09-21T23:02:05.783-07:00I dated a Fianist once, he was oily too but man......I dated a Fianist once, he was oily too but man....those hands, must have been the resin. I've never judged a competition, (not too sure there are that many French wine competitions here is SoCal) but I think making someone taste 80 Chardonnays...especially those under $15.00, is not worth offing yourself for. Worth killing the fukcer that talked you into it yes, but...<br /><br />So it turns out we have met dude and can I just say, throwing shit in my glass was so uncalled for. And I did say, "Out damn snot"....I was talking to you.Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.com