Comments on: The James Suckling era ends (and what we ate and drank for my birthday) http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/ Negotiating the Epistemologic Implications of Oenophilia Thu, 31 May 2012 18:08:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Dan P http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-10164 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:12:29 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-10164 J&T, There is a school of thought that says only oil your meat before cooking and salt at start of resting. I find this method creates another layer of flavor by curiously isolating the beefiness quotient. Hope to see you soon. DP

]]> By: Jerry http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-10040 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:17:18 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-10040 Tom:

Couldn’t disagree wth you more! Really, to say that among Italian wine lovers, Suckling’s influence was limited is so far from the truth it’s shocking. He jas probably done more for the promotion of all Italian wine than any other person on the planet. If he does not continue to write, his historical contribution to the enjoyment of Italian wine will be sorely missed. Shame on you for not recognizing this…

]]> By: Susannah http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-10032 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:05:32 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-10032 Well happy belated birthday. Quite a post. I share many of those feelings but agree that he has raised the image of some Italian wines. It will be nice to see a new era dawning. I do hope Franco changes his mind. Non puoi fare niente??

]]> By: daniel o'byrne http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9976 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:41:36 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9976 nice post, here in Greve in Chianti la fiorentina usually gets salted only after it is taken off the coals, and out of reverence it is served without any side dishes, then as they sit down to eat they say “non si guarda in faccia a nessuno…” (also out of reverence I suppose)

Suckling’s departure is quite a surprise, I agree he did very much for Italian wine in general if not Tuscan wine in particular, and I think he had a good palate (it should be remembered that he also covered Bordeaux) even if it was skewed 5 points upward for oaky and extracted wines, but I think he was mostly playing for what Wine Spectator wanted to create as the American palate or at least that of their 1 million subscribers…you will not get much return on recommending wines based on perfume, subtlety, austerity, etc., to the masses (although this could change and may be changing even if slowly)

could you imagine Suckling writing in a tasting note “shows great terrior expression…”… the whole magazine would blow up like the world trade

what to expect now? from the Wine Spectator, continuance of the past editorial stance regardless of the new critic? from Suckling a tuscan wine newsletter? independent wine critic? does it even matter?

p.s. happy birthday, a good sangiovese rosato is perfect summer drinking can stand up even to a bistecca

]]> By: Dan P http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9926 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:16:32 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9926 Happy bday! Nice coinky-dink. Let’s send free one-way air tickets to Phuket to all of James friends in central Italy and start sponsor a fundraiser to turn his house into a museum.

]]> By: Do Bianchi http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9817 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:58:30 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9817 thanks, everyone, for reading and for weighing in. As Charles Scicolone rightly points out, in the end, it’s the winemakers who chose to go for the scores… Although I could never agree with James’s take on Italian wine, I can’t help but recognize all the good he did by raising awareness for the “category” in general. I, for one, am looking forward to what he’ll do next and for the record, although I’ve never met the man, everyone whom I know who knows him says that he’s a super nice guy. One of these days I hope to catch up with him in Encinitas, CA, not far from where I grew up and where his family lives and where he hangs at 3rd Corner, an awesome wine bar. Thanks for reading!

]]> By: hande http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9797 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:34:00 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9797 I so agree with everything you say!

]]> By: croosadabilia http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9793 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:10:01 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9793 nice post.. e poi buon compleanno…..
i think wine spectator should grab you while they can! haa, its the only hope…
i’m with you on the bloody rare fiorentina…
always paranoid to overcook it….
cheers!

]]> By: adrian http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9788 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:26:00 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9788 Dwight, you are 100% correct…

]]> By: adrian http://dobianchi.com/2010/07/15/the-james-suckling-era-ends-and-what-we-ate-and-drank-for-my-birthday/#comment-9787 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:17:57 +0000 http://dobianchi.com/?p=8988#comment-9787 Great, great post Jeremy…first real analysis of this news. Certain vino gadflies were just parroting the news.

Also, like the photo logo at the top…great juxtapositions.

Wish Pizzeria Mozza had a Brunello, but today was 94 in L.A….that’s Rosato weather! Marisa Cuomo Aglianico/Piedirosso…yum.

Tanti auguri once again…!

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