This refers to an interesting blurb in Decanter magazine about Adam Tolmach, of Ojai winery, who says he cannot drink his own spoofulated wine, which is made in a style to please Robert Parker. Kind of gnaws at me because he is making wine not for himself and for someone else, which is what is always bandied about by wine geeks like me on message boards and blogs, but still is disheartening to hear it uttered by a winemaker in CA. Umm . .you can have the Ojai Henry Daniel Syrah . . .I'll have the Chateau Simone.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I cannot drink my own spoofilated wine says California winemaker
This refers to an interesting blurb in Decanter magazine about Adam Tolmach, of Ojai winery, who says he cannot drink his own spoofulated wine, which is made in a style to please Robert Parker. Kind of gnaws at me because he is making wine not for himself and for someone else, which is what is always bandied about by wine geeks like me on message boards and blogs, but still is disheartening to hear it uttered by a winemaker in CA. Umm . .you can have the Ojai Henry Daniel Syrah . . .I'll have the Chateau Simone.
Lyle,
ReplyDeleteTell me it isn't so...
How many geeks do you think will just call him a jerk and move back to points sheet for guidance?
Well, hMr. Tolmach just issued an "I was misquoted and misinterpreted" thingie on Decanter.com. I have posted a question to him regarding the exact nature of the misquote-misrepresentation, because it's not particularly clear from his explanation.
ReplyDeleteM.
Misquoting is a habit in the press, but so is talking to the press and then suffering remorse.
ReplyDeleteWow. Adam and I have something in common! I can't drink his wine either!
ReplyDeleteLOL I don't want to sound like I'm fawning BUT your comments are always so funny!
ReplyDeleteyou could choose a better example to pimp ojai than the 1997 henery daniel syrah (a one-off, BTW). it's hardly spoofilated.
ReplyDeleteRothko,
ReplyDeleteThat's what I get for not knowing the wines and looking up a high parker score. The one wine he makes with no added sulfites, no new oak from an organic and biodynamic vineyard!
Lyle,
ReplyDeleteIn light of Adam's comments being misconstrued by the writer at the LA times, you might consider retracting your thread...
On a side note, it's interesting that you called the '47 Cheval Blanc a special wine...as you may know, Cheval '47 has measured well into the 16%+ alcohol range with VA to boot. How can an unbalanced wine be special??
I have never had '47 Cheval . ..but I use it as an example as a wine that many people consider a special occasion wine. And hey a little VA never hurt anybody. Olga Raffault?
ReplyDeleteAgree with the VA--a little can go a long ways sometimes. Do you think '47 Cheval is spoofilated at 16+%? Pre-Parker spoofilation...interesting topic. Of course, a fair number of the world's greatest wines have posted some pretty high alcohol numbers, fwiw. Something to think about.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work on the blog!
Why would Lyle want to retract his comments? What he wrote is, after all, merely commentary on events as reported by Ms. Brown of the L.A. Times. If anyone should feel a need to retract anything--that is, if it proves to be the case that she misquoted and misconstrued comments by Mr. Tolmach--it should be the newspaper, no?
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, this is all very "he-said-she-said" and I have a feeling it will remain that way unless someone produces a transcript (or better, a recording) of the actual interview. Eric Asimov reports on the corrections Tolmach makes to what appears on the article and he sounds very credible. It remains to be seen what the L.A. Times will do about this, since what may have been misreported in that article could affect Mr. Tolmach's business.
Ah, but it would have been so much fun if a California winemaker had actually said all that...
M.
But you see, Manual, I don't read Tolmach's explanation as a retraction of what he said, only in what context he said it, which is to a specific volume of wine production.
ReplyDeleteI still believe it is a case of interviewee remorse for saying something open-ended, and probably too revealing.
As to Lyle retracting this post--no reason to do that, especially if you read the event the way I do. I could be wrong, and when proven so, I'll have Lyle consider not retracting my post but forcing me through threat of detention (or maybe a lawsuit!) to retract my post.
Tomas,
ReplyDeleteDon't know that I attributed any retractions to Tolmach, only "corrections".
I found the suggestion that Lyle retract his post rather uncalled for.
And it's ManuEl. Yep, that next-to-last letter is tricky. It's an "E", trust me.
M.
Sorry Manuel. I Understand your consternation--hate it when someone spells either of my names wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't even my typing at fault, just my fault.
I believe my post confused you, and after reading it again I can see why. Rather than explain the post, I'll rephrase it.
Tolmach's explanation doesn't seem to say he was misquoted regarding sentiment--it seems to say that he was misquoted regarding the wines he was talking about.
And that Lyle retraction thing--I was supporting your post that there's no reason for him to retract his post. Problem with blog postings is trying to keep a thread in sequence. I'm going to stop trying to do that.
Oh, I got your backing of the Lyle-not-retracting thing. I was just confused by the whole "Tolmach retraction" bit. Alas, I was also clear on Tolmach still holding on to the idea of the quote.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, I was just messin' with you. I get that "Manual" thing eveyr couple of hours.
M.
Manuel,
ReplyDeleteI knew you were messing with me, but I think I get the last laugh.
Being a writer, I choose my words carefully. You spelled my name the Spanish way--Tomas--and I spell it with an H.
The laugh is in the definition of "consternation."
Ah, okay, my apologies, THomas,
ReplyDeleteGetting the last laugh can be a strange little experience, at least as I see it, since I prefer laughing with people... Trouble with one-upmanship or one-downmanship is that one focuses too much on a target and not enough on the joyous activity that is progress toward it.
And you're a writer, professionally? I was under the impression that you were a wine retailer.
M.
True what you say, Manuel, but online it's quite difficult to have much of a laugh with others--unless of course delusions are in the picture somehow...
ReplyDeleteManuel, here's my wine resume in brief:
Script writer and storyboard designer (worked on the Beaulieu Visitor Center a/v piece; and for other wine and spirits companies0 in late 70s/80s.
Winemaker and owner of small Finger Lakes winery 1985-93. Lost all my money at it!!!
Began wine and food writing for upstate NY newspapers and a few national mags.
Worked at Lauber Imports for less than 2 years--cured me of wanting to work in distribution so, with a partner, I opened is-wine an East Village retail shop in Manhattan in 2000. I got out of the business in early 2005.
Through it, I continued writing for newspapers and mags. Have three upstate columns and do a mag article a few times a year now. Concentrating on books.
Thus far, two books:
Garlic, Wine and Olive Oil: Historical Anecdotes and Recipes; 2000; Capra Press
WINE; The 8,000 Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade; 2006; Avalon, Thunder's Mouth Press
Third one being written as we post--will not divulge it now!
What can I say? Buy my books--I still haven't recouped my winery losses...
Right. A large fortune turns to a small one. A small one... Well, I don't wanna know...
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I'll go over to Amazon and order your books, man.
The world is made of delusions. On the wine internet, they just become fun.
M.
FYI: a small fortune evaporates and becomes the motivation to work for a distributor; fast money, no morals, but part of turning right side up, I think.
ReplyDelete