Kermit Lynch interviewed by Gary Vaynerchuk

S

SteveTimko

Steve Timko
Kermit Lynch gave an interesting interview on Wine Library TV.

It's a three parter. He says deomstic wine he likes includes our own Steve Edmunds Edmunds St. John. And he says the reason he stopped selling domestic wine is because the third vintage of Joseph Swann's pinot was so bad he couldn't carry it and it was easier to say he no longer sold domestic than to hurt the feelings of his friend who helped early in his travels in Europe. Has anyone tried that pinot?

Vaynerchuk has an annoying habit of finishing Lynch's comments to move it along. All in all it's a good interview. Interesting that Lynch recently got thrown out of a Nashville restuarant for complaining about salt. The man could refer to Alice Waters and Lulu for credentials, I guess.






Link
 
Can't speak for any of those early vintages - Joseph Swan first made wines under his name in the early 1970's - but recent vintages of his Saralee and Great Oak Vineyards Pinots have been, to my palate, elegant and finessed, often with a cinnamon/nutmeg component and an appealing earthy complexion. I quite like the wines. Some of them are a bit idiosyncratic, but they're certainly not bad, and they're not point-chasers. Very good Zinfandel, too, and that's something I seldom get a chance to say.
 
I shouldn't have said "his" - Swan died in the late 1980's. The wines are now made by Rod Berglund, a very nice, soft-spoken guy who started out at La Crema. Like I said, I dig these wines.
 
originally posted by Aaron:

I shouldn't have said "his" - Swan died in the late 1980's. The wines are now made by Rod Berglund, a very nice, soft-spoken guy who started out at La Crema. Like I said, I dig these wines.
Click to expand...

Me too. Rod makes some of the finest (to my taste) Pinot Noir (and Syrah) in the Russian River Valley. And because Joe Swan bought all of the vineyards, Rod can afford to keep pricing reasonable.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Aaron: Swan died in the late 1980's. The wines are now made by Rod Berglund, a very nice, soft-spoken guy
Click to expand...

Aaron, Yes, Rod has a long history with wine growing and generously sharing his astute insights with online friends.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by Aaron:

I shouldn't have said "his" - Swan died in the late 1980's. The wines are now made by Rod Berglund, a very nice, soft-spoken guy who started out at La Crema. Like I said, I dig these wines.
Click to expand...

Me too. Rod makes some of the finest (to my taste) Pinot Noir (and Syrah) in the Russian River Valley. And because Joe Swan bought all of the vineyards, Rod can afford to keep pricing reasonable.

Mark Lipton
Click to expand...

Rod is married to Joe Swan's daughter. The first Swan Pinot was 1973, and I've not had the 1975. The 73 was really beautiful a couple years ago -- the only time I had it.
 
I thought Gary did a good job with this interview, actually. Kermit seemed to enjoy his energy and they talked about a lot of interesting stuff.
 
originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
I thought Gary did a good job with this interview, actually. Kermit seemed to enjoy his energy and they talked about a lot of interesting stuff.
Click to expand...

Speaking as one with a very limited tolerance for the antics of Gary V, I found his behavior less manic in those episodes. Either he's toned down the act since I last paid him any attention or he consciously turned down the volume in Mr. Lynch's presence. Still, all in all, I'd prefer to see Kermit Lynch appear on an episode of The Real Wine Connoisseurs. I'm fairly certain that Sadat X would elicit more detailed discussion of the wines, and what would the FUF be for the '06 Pallieres Gigondas anyway?

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
I thought Gary did a good job with this interview, actually. Kermit seemed to enjoy his energy and they talked about a lot of interesting stuff.
Click to expand...

I'll have to give it a look, my comment was based on every other interview I've seen there. Seems like he's always jumping in and finishing thoughts and doing all the talking. Maybe showing some reverence for Kermit.
 
originally posted by Brian C:
originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
I thought Gary did a good job with this interview, actually. Kermit seemed to enjoy his energy and they talked about a lot of interesting stuff.
Click to expand...

I'll have to give it a look, my comment was based on every other interview I've seen there. Seems like he's always jumping in and finishing thoughts and doing all the talking. Maybe showing some reverence for Kermit.
Click to expand...

Kermit Lynch still had to use the New York Jets spitbucket.
 
Kermit Lynch has been more "visible" in the past 18 months than in the prior 18 years. What's up with that? Sagging sales? Entering a new phase of life?
 
Part of it is promoting his new record album, where you need to see his face to drive sales.
I'm guessing the struggling wine business is forcing his public appearances regarding wine.
 
I found myself wishing Gary would quit interrupting Kermit and interjecting in much the same way I get frustrated with Charlie Rose. Considering how different they are it was surprising how equally annoying
they are as interviewers.

Kermit appearing on The Real Wine Connoisseurs has some actual potential since Kermit is a musician and
aspiring performer. It could be interesting to see Sadat X and Kermit combine their respective careers with their hobby passions to explore FUF possibilities.
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Interesting that Lynch recently got thrown out of a Nashville restuarant for complaining about salt.
Click to expand...

The funny thing is that i know which restaurant. I had friends who emailed a chef here about a salt issue.
 
originally posted by Bwood:
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Interesting that Lynch recently got thrown out of a Nashville restuarant for complaining about salt.
Click to expand...

The funny thing is that i know which restaurant. I had friends who emailed a chef here about a salt issue.
Click to expand...

Hey, jb, you still dry and drinking potable water or something else? It sounds pretty dire out in your neck of the woods.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:

Hey, jb, you still dry and drinking potable water or something else? It sounds pretty dire out in your neck of the woods.

Mark Lipton
Click to expand...

Well, we are drying out.

I've bored many people with details of the epic flood. 18-20 inches of rain in two days. Waterfalls that sprout from the woods behind your house,

A "once in a 100 years event," is what people are saying, which is the same explanation I heard following the stock market crash a couple of years ago. Personally, I blame the stats guys for getting the tails on the curve wrong. It's all vlm's fault.
 
originally posted by Bwood:
originally posted by MLipton:

Hey, jb, you still dry and drinking potable water or something else? It sounds pretty dire out in your neck of the woods.

Mark Lipton
Click to expand...

Well, we are drying out, which is a never-ending process in this here neck of the woods.

I've bored many people with details of the epic flood. 18-20 inches of rain in two days. Waterfalls that sprout from the woods behind your house,

A "once in a 100 years event," is what people are saying, which is the same explanation I heard following the stock market crash a couple of years ago. Personally, I blame the stats guys for getting the tails on the curve wrong. It's all vlm's fault.
Click to expand...

Hey man, the probability of any single event is either 0 or 1.

Speaking of floods, Treme is fucking genius.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top