Robert Parker's Bitch from Josh Hermsmeyer on Vimeo.
Here in New York, we don't really need to worry about Robert Parker or James Laube -- they don't taste NY wines for their respective publications. For Parker's Wine Advocate, David Schildknecht covers New York and for the Wine Spectator, people like Thomas Matthews, Mitch Frank and James Molesworth taste and write about the wines of New York.
Still, this video put together by Tina Caputo of Vineyard and Winery Management should be of interest to anyone who drinks or makes wine. And of course I'd be remiss not to give my buddy Josh Hermsmeyer a shout out for his contribution. Love the t-shirt.
Maybe one day NY winemakers will have to get "Lenn Thompson's Bitch" t-shirts made?
No chance. Even if I did hold any weight in the industry, I like balance, elegance and terroir, the types of wines that I hope winemakers like to make for themselves, not for anyone else.
Great find!
I heard a talk from John Williams (Cornell alum, formerly of Stag's Leap, now owner of Frog's Leap). He said that when Laube came to Frog's Leap to taste his Napa wines (NOT in this style), it wasn't going too well. The reported conversation was thus:
Laube: John, why did you make these wines so drinkable?
JW: Well, we did some market research and found that people actually like to drink wine!
quote JW, "...and that was the end of our relationship with the Wine Spectator."
I also appreciated the shoutout to "millenials" like myself.
Posted by: Tom Mansell | March 18, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Great video. Nice work.
Posted by: Wineharlot | March 18, 2009 at 04:58 PM
You need to make the shirt!
Tell them it is worth 1 extra star on your rating scale.
Posted by: Dirty | March 18, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Ill be wearing my "Lenn Thompson's Bitch" T shirt at the Terrapin lol. I just bottled one of my enteries yesterday, so their standing up till the corks expand. Ill do the other tomorow or the next day.
Posted by: Rowland | March 18, 2009 at 07:37 PM
can we have Lenn Thompson's Bitch T-shirts for TasteCamp East??
Posted by: john witherspoon | March 18, 2009 at 09:37 PM
One day, there will be no Robert Parker. Right now the task at hand is to educate the masses and make sure the trend dosen't continue to spread any further than it already has. Maybe the real threats are the "Parkers" in training.
Posted by: Richard Ritter | March 18, 2009 at 09:50 PM
I'm really glad to be making wine on Long Island. California has clearly lost its soul.
And Lenn, hate to break it you buddy but I don't think Nena will think those shirts are a good idea. Just trying to help you out...
Posted by: Rich | March 19, 2009 at 07:28 AM
Pimp Daddy Parker is rollin' in Napa with his beatches!
"Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice -- Laid back -- with my mind on my money and my money on my mind."
Obviously, smoking the finest cigars, mixing himself some Bombay Saphires and tonic for those late-morning stretches, and sampling only the finest of "juice." Mad money for all, as long as they juice it right!
Someone warn me when we venture into hyperbole or silliness.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | March 19, 2009 at 10:17 AM
@Jason
I think maybe on word one.
Posted by: Tom Mansell | March 19, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Tom, I disagree vehemently. I think I really started to fall apart on word two.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | March 19, 2009 at 12:35 PM
then we agree to disagree.
Posted by: Tom Mansell | March 19, 2009 at 02:21 PM