Maison Ilan

[David M. Bueker]

I'm in Poland right now, and it's driving me nuts that all they show on tv is soccer/football. Why can't they show some baseball games??? Where's my 24x7 coverage of the NFL pre-season?

Europe is so parochial.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by SFJoe:
I remember years ago a parody edition of the Boston Globe. The headlines were:

Hub Man Dies

As New York Destroyed by Bomb

Akin to the New York Times classic, "World Ends; Women, Minorities Hardest Hit"

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by David M. Bueker:
I'm in Poland right now, and it's driving me nuts that all they show on tv is soccer/football.

No Formula 1? Not very big in Poland?

 

[David M. Bueker]

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by David M. Bueker:
I'm in Poland right now, and it's driving me nuts that all they show on tv is soccer/football.

No Formula 1? Not very big in Poland?

The race is tomorrow.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Yixin didn't say it was surprising, only that it showed a specific reporting bias. He's far too old to find it surprising.

Okay, but why is it objectionable?

I don't want to speak for him, but perhaps it's because it's parochial to have such a bias?

Do you think the sports section of the New York Times should cease paying more attention to the Yankees and Mets than other teams? Maybe it's parochial for them to pay any particular attention to baseball at all, and they should give as much coverage to rugby, cricket, and whatever other crazy sports they play in other random places in the world that are surely not as parochial as we Americans and whose newspapers therefore surely cover American baseball just as fastidiously as they do their own local sports.

In sports, indeed, parochialism rules. We expect better from cultural coverage, in the US and elsewhere.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Yixin didn't say it was surprising, only that it showed a specific reporting bias. He's far too old to find it surprising.

Okay, but why is it objectionable?

I don't want to speak for him, but perhaps it's because it's parochial to have such a bias?

Do you think the sports section of the New York Times should cease paying more attention to the Yankees and Mets than other teams? Maybe it's parochial for them to pay any particular attention to baseball at all, and they should give as much coverage to rugby, cricket, and whatever other crazy sports they play in other random places in the world that are surely not as parochial as we Americans and whose newspapers therefore surely cover American baseball just as fastidiously as they do their own local sports.

In sports, indeed, parochialism rules. We expect better from cultural coverage, in the US and elsewhere.

I don't. I rather like the fact that the New York papers are more likely to review a concert or theater production in New York than one in, say, London.

Also, it's not like you are talking about a wine columnist who writes about Long Island wine country every week. Eric covers the globe. The fact that an American is making wine in Burgundy is worthy of coverage, and it is particularly worthy of coverage in an American newspaper.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Yixin didn't say it was surprising, only that it showed a specific reporting bias. He's far too old to find it surprising.

Okay, but why is it objectionable?

I don't want to speak for him, but perhaps it's because it's parochial to have such a bias?

Do you think the sports section of the New York Times should cease paying more attention to the Yankees and Mets than other teams? Maybe it's parochial for them to pay any particular attention to baseball at all, and they should give as much coverage to rugby, cricket, and whatever other crazy sports they play in other random places in the world that are surely not as parochial as we Americans and whose newspapers therefore surely cover American baseball just as fastidiously as they do their own local sports.

In sports, indeed, parochialism rules. We expect better from cultural coverage, in the US and elsewhere.

I don't. I rather like the fact that the New York papers are more likely to review a concert or theater production in New York than one in, say, London.

Also, it's not like you are talking about a wine columnist who writes about Long Island wine country every week. Eric covers the globe. The fact that an American is making wine in Burgundy is worthy of coverage, and it is particularly worthy of coverage in an American newspaper.

I agree that it's worthy of coverage, regardless of any US or Burgundy bias, yet Yixin gave the thread a more global perspective by pointing some of these out. To the extent that someone shares a bias, I understand that it would not be objectionable but, given the media's power to shape our beliefs, it's useful to be reminded.

 

[Yule Kim]

I also thought part of the point was that there is a burgundy bias. There are a lot of expats farming interesting terroir in the Jura, Languedoc, and other places (including americans), but they don't get NY Times coverage.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by Yule Kim:
I also thought part of the point was that there is a burgundy bias. There are a lot of expats farming interesting terroir in the Jura, Languedoc, and other places (including americans), but they don't get NY Times coverage.

Don't they? I think Eric Asimov has given more coverage to the Jura than any wine writer before him ever did.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Yixin didn't say it was surprising, only that it showed a specific reporting bias. He's far too old to find it surprising.

Okay, but why is it objectionable?

I had the impression he was observing, rather than objecting. A good example of Yixin objecting was his recent response to the guy who presumed to assign points to Clos Roche Blanche wines. Or to my queries about Burgundy makers some time ago.

 

[Yule Kim]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Yule Kim:
I also thought part of the point was that there is a burgundy bias. There are a lot of expats farming interesting terroir in the Jura, Languedoc, and other places (including americans), but they don't get NY Times coverage.

Don't they? I think Eric Asimov has given more coverage to the Jura than any wine writer before him ever did.

No doubt about that, which is why I consider him one of the better wine writers in the business. But, if Ray Walker was trying to run a negociant business in Arbois or Pic St. Loup, he probably wouldn't have gotten the press. I remeber reading how Dressner recently started importing a producer from the languedoc who I believe is an american expat and who several people on this board raved about. But I don't think he Is getting an article anytime soon. Of course, on the other hand, it is harder to get started in burgundy what with the financing issues, so perhaps that is why being successful in burgundy is considered more impressive.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by Yule Kim:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Yule Kim:
I also thought part of the point was that there is a burgundy bias. There are a lot of expats farming interesting terroir in the Jura, Languedoc, and other places (including americans), but they don't get NY Times coverage.

Don't they? I think Eric Asimov has given more coverage to the Jura than any wine writer before him ever did.

No doubt about that, which is why I consider him one of the better wine writers in the business. But, if Ray Walker was trying to run a negociant business in Arbois or Pic St. Loup, he probably wouldn't have gotten the press.

I don't know. Maybe he would have. Jamie Kutch got tons of press for moving to make wine in Sonoma, and Sonoma pinot sure ain't Chambertin. Anyway, I *do* think there is something more newsworthy about an American making Chambertin than an American making Pic St. Loup, but I imagine if there were any examples of the latter who would make an engaging story, sooner or later a wine writer will cover it.

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Anyway, I *do* think there is something more newsworthy about an American making Chambertin than an American making Pic St. Loup, but I imagine if there were any examples of the latter who would make an engaging story, sooner or later a wine writer will cover it.

I tend to agree that any ex-pat operating in Burgundy tends to be more newsworthy because of the historically closed nature of the business there. Outsiders have been able to buy land and make wine in e.g. the Languedoc with relative ease for as long as I've been paying attention, but Burgundy is notoriously hard to break into for outsiders, even if they're French... or such has been my impression.

Mark Lipton

 

[Ned Hoey]

He's not the first or the only American delving deep into Burgundy. I don't know if Eric has ever featured this guy, and if not, why not? I'm guessing that it is likely because his approach has been more conventional, part of what is interesting about Ray is his keen interest in 19th century methods and for lack of a better term, his desire to be as "natural" as he can. That's also fairly unique in the Cote d'Or.

 

[Keith Levenberg]

originally posted by Ned Hoey:
He's not the first or the only American delving deep into Burgundy. I don't know if Eric has ever featured this guy, and if not, why not?

I dunno if he has or not, either. Certainly others have, including Wine Spectator. I've never thought Gambal's wines were very good, which may explain why someone might choose not to write a feature on him.

 

[Filippo Mattia Ginanni]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Yule Kim:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Yule Kim:
I also thought part of the point was that there is a burgundy bias. There are a lot of expats farming interesting terroir in the Jura, Languedoc, and other places (including americans), but they don't get NY Times coverage.

Don't they? I think Eric Asimov has given more coverage to the Jura than any wine writer before him ever did.

No doubt about that, which is why I consider him one of the better wine writers in the business. But, if Ray Walker was trying to run a negociant business in Arbois or Pic St. Loup, he probably wouldn't have gotten the press.

I don't know. Maybe he would have. Jamie Kutch got tons of press for moving to make wine in Sonoma, and Sonoma pinot sure ain't Chambertin. Anyway, I *do* think there is something more newsworthy about an American making Chambertin than an American making Pic St. Loup, but I imagine if there were any examples of the latter who would make an engaging story, sooner or later a wine writer will cover it.

If you dream, you usually go with a Ferrari although you could be happy with a 500. In my dreams I have Ray's Chambertin and Sienna M. or Eva G. not Pic St. Loup and my high school desk mate.

F.

PS. I don't remember the girl's name but the wine was Chambertin.

 

[Ned Hoey]

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:

originally posted by Ned Hoey:
He's not the first or the only American delving deep into Burgundy. I don't know if Eric has ever featured this guy, and if not, why not?

I dunno if he has or not, either. Certainly others have, including Wine Spectator. I've never thought Gambal's wines were very good, which may explain why someone might choose not to write a feature on him.

Just sayin', seems the angle is mostly about the uniqueness of being there, not the exceptional wine quality. Ray has hardly made or released much wine so far. Gambal has been toiling away for years.

 

[Ray Walker]

Hey everyone! Thanks for the comments. I'm usually more of a lurker, but figured I'd post.

I agree with those saying that I really don't have much experience. I prefer people to just look at the wines, but some are interested in knowing more and honestly, it is fun to recount the journey so far. I'm not trying to do anything 'special'. I intended to buy fruit from village level vineyards, and would have been proud to do so.

Alex and his exact story have been mentioned to Eric, by Alex. I cannot speak to what others do, since I do not know what Alex does or does not do. As for me, I buy fruit from a handful of vineyards that I feel are special and do my best to not screw up. I'm not the smartest, or particularly talented. But, I can't think of anyone else having more fun.

Cheers!

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

welcome ray. don't just lurk, post often.

oh yeah, fuck you!

 

[Howard Cooper]

In my dreams I have Ray's Chambertin and Sienna M. or Eva G. not Pic St. Loup and my high school desk mate.

F.

PS. I don't remember the girl's name but the wine was Chambertin.

Well, at least I can say I have had Ray's Chambertin.

I have not met Alex Gambell or Blair Pethel or a number of other Americans who have gone to Burgundy to make wine. I have, on the other hand, met Ray and now consider him a friend. His wines are outstanding, but I think one reason he is getting a lot of attention is his personality. Ray will blush when I say this but he has a lot of charisma. The combination of his personality and his dedication and ability to make wine will make him the best known American making wine in Burgundy.