Chris Kissack & Jim Budd banned from tasting Huet's 2013s.

B

Brad Kane

Brad Kane
Chris Kissack reports that he was dressed down and banned from tasting the 2013s from Huet and given no information about the wines because the domaine didn't like his even-handed and and honest write-up of their 2012s. Jim Budd reports being treated similarly. I'm at a loss to understand this treatment to two of the finest writers covering the region. The domaine's behavior saddens me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Chris Kissack's Link

Jim Budd's Link
 
Thread merged with the one started earlier by pab:

Banned from tasting 2013 Huet
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the wine doctor (link)

Funny !
pab at 2/17/14 9:45 am
 
Lets speculate wildly about the Domaine's impending meltdown.

I'll start: did anyone else hear they are being absorbed by Southern?
 
I thought you were all cheering when RMP was thrown out by Fourrier Sr.

I am confused.
 
I've only heard Jean-Marie's version of the RMP visit, but it sounded quite different, no?

Interesting that Gilman seems so keen on the 2012 Huets, or at least some of them.
 
originally posted by Kay Bixler:
Lets speculate wildly about the Domaine's impending meltdown.

I'll start: did anyone else hear they are being absorbed by Southern?
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I heard they'd been bitten by zombies.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
I've only heard Jean-Marie's version of the RMP visit, but it sounded quite different, no?

Interesting that Gilman seems so keen on the 2012 Huets, or at least some of them.
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I think the general characteristics of two events are very similar. It's just the cheering sections vary.

In both instances open, free inquiry was restricted. No matter where you stand on the relative merits of Budd/Kissack/Parker, all are established wine writers and critics.

Sasha's point is on point.
 
originally posted by Kay Bixler:
Lets speculate wildly about the Domaine's impending meltdown
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There's nothing "impending" about it. They were bought by 1%'ers and now they are being run as a corporate brand. First, the insiders who might insist on expensive quality and tradition (Pinguet) have to go. Then, any outsiders who fail to praise the (stupid and) autocratic CxOs can be dismissed. Finally, allocations will be re-aligned to reward potential sources of investment capital and/or lines of credit.

As others have said, it's time to buy Pinon, Foreau, and Chidaine and to stop worrying about Huet.

And that is truly sad. It may take 50 or 100 years until a Loire-based Texier rediscovers how to farm Le Mont correctly.
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
originally posted by .sasha:
I thought you were all cheering when RMP was thrown out by Fourrier Sr.

I am confused.
Click to expand...

jim budd= rmp?
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Just messing with you guys. I think rmp was in the middle of giving some fairly drastic and unsolicited winemaking advice, when that particular meeting ended prematurely. I have not been able to get my hands on Jim's or Chris's exact reports in questions, but I have a suspicion they wouldn't go quite as far. Would be interesting to see the evidence though.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

As others have said, it's time to buy Pinon, Foreau, and Chidaine and to stop worrying about Huet.
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They didn't used to be fungible goods for me. Huet had a texture and character that was distinctive among that august group. Partly winemaking, partly terroir.

I don't suppose that vast portions of their market read the wine Interwebz, but this can't be the sort of publicity they want.
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
I've only heard Jean-Marie's version of the RMP visit, but it sounded quite different, no?

Interesting that Gilman seems so keen on the 2012 Huets, or at least some of them.
Click to expand...

I think the general characteristics of two events are very similar. It's just the cheering sections vary.

In both instances open, free inquiry was restricted. No matter where you stand on the relative merits of Budd/Kissack/Parker, all are established wine writers and critics.

Sasha's point is on point.
Click to expand...

Well, again, the information I've had access to is quite limited, and very possibly biased, but it doesn't jive with this interpretation. Based on info from the same source (Jean-Marie, in an interview with Levi Dalton), Kissak's response also sounds rather more measured than Parker's. Responding differently to similar events, because the behavior of the key individuals involved, seems perfectly reasonable.
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
originally posted by .sasha:
I thought you were all cheering when RMP was thrown out by Fourrier Sr.

I am confused.
Click to expand...

jim budd= rmp?
Click to expand...

at least I replied just in time to avoid a corollary "huet = fourrier?" from fatboy
 
I suspect that the sensitivity was more around the discussion of Pinguet's departure than around the reviews of particular wines.

Not that I recall reading anything inflammatory from Chris or Jim on either subject.

But of course I'm guessing.
 
originally posted by .sasha:
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
originally posted by .sasha:
I thought you were all cheering when RMP was thrown out by Fourrier Sr.

I am confused.
Click to expand...

jim budd= rmp?
Click to expand...

Just messing with you guys. I think rmp was in the middle of giving some fairly drastic and unsolicited winemaking advice, when that particular meeting ended prematurely. I have not been able to get my hands on Jim's or Chris's exact reports in questions, but I have a suspicion they wouldn't go quite as far. Would be interesting to see the evidence though.
Click to expand...

gotcha.
 
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