Big changes at the Wine Advocate- Parker reportedly cashes out and gives up editorial control

[Nathan_Smyth]

@Paul Jaouen

How the heck did I miss that Jay Miller was retiring?!?!?! On second thought, I guess it was easy to miss.

Jay Miller is actually a member here at WineBerserkers, and has been pretty darned generous with his time.

So is Rovani, for that matter.

I wish that both of them would post more often.

[Bill_Klapp_deactivated]

Wilfred, this Soo Hoo Khoon Peng fellow’s name is appearing in many places, but I am not sure that there is 100% confirmation that he is an investor yet (only circumstantial evidence running in the low-to-mid 90s!). However, if the dude cashed out of the wine business just to buy into the WA, and Mr. Wine Ethics is stupid enough to make the claim that he did not sell to anybody connected to the wine business on that barest of technicalities (and yes, he did make that claim), he should be boiled in duck fat along with his frites at L’ Ami Louis! The exact quote:

“I have again taken on some investors, three 30-early 40ish highly qualified business and technology people and enthusiastic wine lovers as well as long time subscribers. They are totally independent of the wine industry and have a very global vision that is essential in today’s world.”

[Brent_C_l_a_y_t_o_n]

@Bob Wood

@Paul Jaouen

How the heck did I miss that Jay Miller was retiring?!?!?! On second thought, I guess it was easy to miss.

I beg to differ. Jay is impossible to miss.

What’s up with you pickin’ on the fat guys Woody? You’re lining yourself up for a Christie-style NJ bitchslap.

[ToddFrench]

I can’t see this going over well:

that Soo Hoo will ‘command and control’ the Wine Advocate.

And this:

The source then says the primary interest of the group is to ‘Allow advertising, allow independent reviewers to conduct public speaking events, presentations and seminars all for a fee, [and] spin off a Chinese edition of TWA’.

So apparently they are focusing on the Asian market, big time.

Too bad WE didn’t think of this, and put together an investment banking deal!

[Hank_Gillespie]

@Bill Klapp

Wilfred, this Soo Hoo Khoon Peng fellow’s name is appearing in many places, but I am not sure that there is 100% confirmation that he is an investor yet (only circumstantial evidence running in the low-to-mid 90s!). …"

Bill, perhaps history has a way of repeating itself after all :

- YouTube

Hank

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

@Todd F r e n c h

I can’t see this going over well:

that Soo Hoo will ‘command and control’ the Wine Advocate.

And this:

The source then says the primary interest of the group is to ‘Allow advertising, allow independent reviewers to conduct public speaking events, presentations and seminars all for a fee, [and] spin off a Chinese edition of TWA’.

So apparently they are focusing on the Asian market, big time.

Too bad WE didn’t think of this, and put together an investment banking deal!

I do not think WE were hedonistic enough.

[Ken_V]

@Hank Gillespie

As a long time subscriber to the printed version of The Wine Advocate, it
represents the best option for me. Hopefully it will continue to be published in
that format. I prefer the ease of picking up the issue and setting it down after
reading a section or a few reviews. …

And at our age, it is much easier to read in the crapper, right Hank?

[Ken_V]

@Brad Kane

@Eric LeVine

@Kyle Schlachter

I spoke to the WA offices this morning and was told that they are planning on increasing the number of writers and coverage and not just in Asia.

Well it is a buyer’s market after all.

Somewhere in L.A., Jeff Leve is waiting by a phone.

[Russell_Faulkner]

@SteveC

@Ken V

@Russell Faulkner

I dunno, it made a big article in the business section of The Times.

(I mean the real one, in the UK).

The UK? Is that somewhere in England?

It’s the Eastern island off of Ireland that we left for the British to live on

Not quite true of course, as Northern Island is in the UK…

[k_s_h_i_n]

@Ken V

I don’t know about his palate but Jeff sure has one of the most informative Bordeaux-centric websites.

[gene_keenan]

@Kevin Shin

@Ken V

I don’t know about his palate but Jeff sure has one of the most informative Bordeaux-centric websites.

true dat.

[David_Glasser]

@Bill Klapp

In the words of the late and great Marvin Gaye, “Oh, mercy, mercy me.
Oh, things ain’t what they used to be.” Or to paraphrase the late, great Desi Arnaz, “Lisa, ju got some ‘splainin’ to do!” I almost hope for Parker’s sake that this isn’t true, but it smells a lot better that Parker’s “oracle of Monkton” hints and half-truths:

Robert Parker Singapore investor 'named' as Soo Hoo Khoon Peng - Decanter

An unnamed source is cited as stating that “Soo Hoo will ‘command and control’ the Wine Advocate.” Sounds like a majority interest. Doesn’t sound consistent with what Bob has posted on the other board.

So, two sets of “facts.” Which set do you believe?

Lots of possibilities here. Most likely IMO is spin and/or distortion, possibly intentional, possibly unintentional or just poor reporting. My guess is that Bob still has control, but $15MM??? That sounds like a controlling chunk of change. Then again, my speculation is no more informed than anyone else’s.

One thing is sure: If both parties truly believe they are in charge, someone is going to end up unhappy.

[Bill_Klapp_deactivated]

@Nathan Smyth

@Paul Jaouen

How the heck did I miss that Jay Miller was retiring?!?!?! On second thought, I guess it was easy to miss.

Jay Miller is actually a member here at WineBerserkers, and has been pretty darned generous with his time.

So is Rovani, for that matter.

I wish that both of them would post more often.

Nathan, I agree on Jay. When Campogate broke, it looked like Parker was in for a load of grief on a guilt-by-association basis vis a vis BigJay. When it was over, it still seemed like guilt by association, but reversed…Jay guilty by association with Parker, Parker guilty by association with Campo, who was yet another of Parker’s adventures in poor judgment. Whatever Jay’s weaknesses as a WA staffer, he is an intelligent, decent and sincere person, all things that his buddy Parker is not…

[ToddFrench]

@Nathan Smyth

@Paul Jaouen

How the heck did I miss that Jay Miller was retiring?!?!?! On second thought, I guess it was easy to miss.

Jay Miller is actually a member here at WineBerserkers, and has been pretty darned generous with his time.

So is Rovani, for that matter.

I wish that both of them would post more often.

Different Jay Miller, Nathan. I met ‘the good Jay Miller’ at a NYC BerserkerFest - the one who posts here is that one, not TWA’s Jay Miller

[k_s_h_i_n]

David,
Lisa sounded like she is in charge. Soo Hoo has to be very gentle with Bob as if Bob doesn’t corporate, say adios to $15 mil and at least 20k reduction in the annual subscription. Bob on the other hand can no longer exert much control as TWA aint his.

[k_s_h_i_n]

@Todd F r e n c h

@Nathan Smyth

@Paul Jaouen

How the heck did I miss that Jay Miller was retiring?!?!?! On second thought, I guess it was easy to miss.

Jay Miller is actually a member here at WineBerserkers, and has been pretty darned generous with his time.

So is Rovani, for that matter.

I wish that both of them would post more often.

Different Jay Miller, Nathan. I met ‘the good Jay Miller’ at a NYC BerserkerFest - the one who posts here is that one, not TWA’s Jay Miller

I thought both contributed here.

[scott_c]

@Kevin Shin

@Todd F r e n c h

Different Jay Miller, Nathan. I met ‘the good Jay Miller’ at a NYC BerserkerFest - the one who posts here is that one, not TWA’s Jay Miller

I thought both contributed here.

Yeah, the WA’s Jay posts as MrBigJ or something like that.

[Bill_Klapp_deactivated]

@scott c l a f f e e

@Kevin Shin

@Todd F r e n c h

Different Jay Miller, Nathan. I met ‘the good Jay Miller’ at a NYC BerserkerFest - the one who posts here is that one, not TWA’s Jay Miller

I thought both contributed here.

Yeah, the WA’s Jay posts as MrBigJ or something like that.

Me, too. If not here, it must have been over at…well, never mind!

[ToddFrench]

@scott c l a f f e e

@Kevin Shin

@Todd F r e n c h

Different Jay Miller, Nathan. I met ‘the good Jay Miller’ at a NYC BerserkerFest - the one who posts here is that one, not TWA’s Jay Miller

I thought both contributed here.

Yeah, the WA’s Jay posts as MrBigJ or something like that.

Found him - 54 posts

http://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/search.php?author_id=13571&sr=posts

Jay S. Miller

[SteveC]

@Russell Faulkner

@SteveC

@Ken V

It’s the Eastern island off of Ireland that we left for the British to live on

Not quite true of course, as Northern Island is in the UK…

That is up for debate