The Pinot Showdown – Part 1
Brian Loring Responds to the Joe Davis Accusations
This show is a follow up to our previous interview: “Joe Davis, Founder of Arcadian Winery” where some accusations were made that caused a great deal of controversy in the wine community. We thought it would be best to have all parties concerned come in and voice their opinion.
This is part one of a four part series.
Find out more about the contributors to today’s show:
- Brian Loring: Loring Wine Company
- Adam Lee: Siduri Wines
- James Laube: Wine Spectator
- Stephen Tanzer: International Wine Cellar
Sponsor: Hospice Du Rhone
Click Below to Play the Show:
(29:50 min 14 MB)
If this series does nothing more than to highlight the differences in styles between various producers of Pinot Noir it has been a huge success! The first installments, with Joe Davis was great, and clearly throw down the gauntlet to all listeners to actually think about their tastes and preferences. The Showdown provides even more discussion about styles and changing methods of production. Is one better than another? NO! Do people have choices? Yes! I can’t wait to hear the other installments of this Showdown!
Great Work!
Love the Showdown. Looking forward to the arrival of Joe Davis in future installments. In a world with so many choices the only winner is the wine lover. Drink what you like not what you think is “correct” wine making or style. I was surprised you guys did not bring up the comment from Joe Davis (loosely quoting) about his being worried because Brian and Adam didn’t have a lot of winemaking experience that something very bad may happen one vintage etc. If I recall it correctly it sounded like some sour grapes to me. Cheers.
Hello GR! Looking forward to every new episode, esp. the rest of the Pinot Showdown. I am hoping, of course, that you will conclude the series with “Episode 5 – Michelle and Anna Nicole sit down for a tasting and settle this thing once and for all” !
Have you thought of doing a show on Finger Lakes, NY wines (I am attending a tasting there this spring)?
Very lively and spirited, great round table discussion. I am looking forward to part two.
part 1, as brian (not loring) likes to say, was awesome! really, interesting and great show…
couple of comments. i think it is very naive to think that “some” winemakers do not make wines to appeal to certain critics. i think there was an article in the ny times about some wine consultant/scientist who can guarantee you a score in the 90s providing you follow his advice (and plenty of winemakers do, although none would go on record). with the amount of money currently in the wine business, some winemakers will make a business decision to pursue that avenue. they have a huge investment in making wine, and they would like to see a return on their investment. i do not beleive that to be the case with brian or adam, they both seem passionate about what they do and the wines that they make. but do not think that other people do not do it…
i think it is also naive to think that it is the consumer who makes the ultimate choice with regards to a successful wine. perhaps that is true, but consumers have ultimately decided that they can not taste every wine, and that they would rather follow a critics judgement on a wine. consumers have decided that robert parker and the wine spectator are the “best” critics as evidenced by their popularity and their ability to move prices. on the tanzer interview a number of shows back, he stated that his subscribers (wine consumers whose palate choices are similar to his) can be at an advantage as a high score from him does not necessarily increase the price of the wine. try to say that about the wine spectator or robert parker.
i think it was robert parker who expressed a sentiment of the nature how unfortunate it now is that critics have become a tool for winemakers as opposed to wine consumers. winemakers come up with prices after seeing critics score the wines (i think especially in bordeaux). i agree with that opinion whole heartedly, but fortunate for wine drinkers like myself, there are exceptions….
again, great show! looking forward to part 2… as a side note, i love burgundies, but i also enjoy getting wacked over the head by a brian loring pinot… i think his juice is great…. (sorry adam and joe, i have to try either of your wines, but i now have a reason to pop the cork on my 2001 siduri pisoni vineyard pinot… joe i will be buying some of yours soon…)
It appears that these discussions got people thinking, and to me, that is the point.
Jay
I just found your podcast via the guys @ The Oz Wine Show & just downloaded your 4 part series on PInot Noir. I cant wait to listen to it!
CHEERS!