Big Changes at the Wine Advocate - The Antonio Galloni Thread

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

I say Pobega takes over Cali Cab reviews.

[WvanGorp]

@Mike During

@WvanGorp

Just from curiosity, I wonder what this means in terms of who is actually now in charge of The Wine Advocate and who owns it. Some on the street have proposed that Antonio might be buying TWA at some point. I wonder if there has been either a change in ownership or change in stake of ownership?

Just curiosity, as I say.

That would explain a lot…

Indeed.

Whatever the behind the scene facts and details, Antonio is enormously capable and IMHO the stock value of TWA just shot up considerably.

[Nick_Gangas]

Sorry I don’t understand. I really like Antonio but what experience does he have with Burgundy? Not to mention the complete lack of consistency in tasting notes.

[Alan_C_h_a_n]

@GregT

It’s not a knock to Antonio at all, but Parker made some of the CA wineries. It’s not clear Antonio will have the same clout, regardless of his abilities. This may even be a boost for Suckling in terms of having some CA credibility.

Greg, I think it’s important to consider what Galloni’s and Suckling’s take on Italy was like. I’m no expert on Italy, but if you take Brunello as an example, it seems to me one of those guys likes real Brunello and the other goes apeshit over spoofy ones. I know which one I’d put dollars toward first. Having said that, there may well be an arms race toward who gives higher points, in which case, the outcome may be different.

[Jim_Brennan]

@billnanson

DS ‘got it’ as BH would say. I don’t know about AG, lets’s see.

I’m not a big champers drinker, but fwiw, some friends have commented that they don’t quite understand AG’s champagne ratings (e.g. - I assume they meant that they felt AG lacked consistency; two wines in similar styles and similar performance [at least to their palates] but with broadly different ratings from AG).

Not sure taking on a bunch of new regions will help that sort of thing.

Glad to have DS focus more on the Loire, Germany, etc.

[Roy_Hersh]

rich g r a h a m wrote:

This likely means Galloni will be > required > to start grade inflating. That > has to be > part of the deal. Suckling and others are carving out their niche appealing to retailers rather than consumers with the uber-high scores. The WA will not put up with being a Burghound consumer friendly reviewer versus a shill for retailers/wineries…

Really?

I have never met Rich Graham, nor AG, but the above comment is so out of left field as to border on being silly. Would Antonio or anyone in his position take the job to begin with, IF someone was pushing them into scoring differently (higher) then they are comfortable with? Er, no. Nor do I believe that Parker would do that to him anyway. The comment above can’t even be considered speculation, more like attention seeking.

If AG does commit to writing full time, there’s no reason why he couldn’t cover all those regions. Look at how many areas Parker reviewed in his prime. I agree that Neal will eventually wind up with Bdx and the Rhone regions, so there’s no reason for him to move on. It is debatable who would be better for Burgundy, Neal or Antonio. But I think that if you “get” the nuances of Barolo, Burgundy is doable too.

Due to its lack of importance in the WA, no one noticed that when Parker restated duties, he did not mention Jay continuing his Port reviews. I hope Jay does, and it was just an oversight by Parker. Even if I am the only one who read his 2007 review, I think it would be a shame for the WA to give up that small niche area and only have Mark focus on the dry wines from Portugal, unless he plans for Mark to take Port on too.

In the meantime, why not give Neal the wines of Madeira? He did a great article on his tasting a few months ago and seemingly likes the wines of the island and would only have to do a two page review once a year. Neal writes very well, has a good palate and needs more to cover while he patiently waits for RP to give up Bdx and the Rhone.

[WvanGorp]

I certainly wouldn’t make any assumptions about who will be the next Bordeaux reviewer after Parker. That assumes Bob will ‘control’ TWA post-retirement–i.e. that he will retain or have ownership. He, more likely, would sell it, in which case the new owner(s)/investors would determine who reviews Bordeaux.

[Barry_L_i_p_t_o_n]

Maybe it’s that I don’t subscribe and don’t get long to look at Galloni’s reviews in friends copies, but I find the distinction in his reviews between traditional and international styles to be less clear now than in his Piedmonte Report, which is where I first started reading him.

That makes him less useful as a buying guide to me than he was solo.

[Brent_C_l_a_y_t_o_n]

It may not be helpful to readers here, but Antonio posted a pretty concise response on EBob at 9pm tonight.

I am happy for him and hopefully this will usher in a new era at TWA that will give a more evenhanded approach to wineries/styles that tended to get short shrift from Mr. Parker.

[Lewis_Dawson]

I really like David Schildknecht’s take on Burgundy. He “gets it” and he “conveys it” in his notes. I think he is the only Burgundy critic writing in English that nailed the 2004 vintage… beguiling wines to drink NOW (his now is now in the past). The problem is that he has not afforded sufficient time to the region to be timely. I don’t know if that has been David’s call, or Parker’s call. I guess my working assumption up to now has been that TWA has ceded the prospect of influence in Burgundy to BurgHound. I regret that, but not sure I disagree with the wisdom of it.

As for Antonio, I have a favorable impression, and willing to see if he can or will become relevant to Burgundy fiends. If he aspires to that, he better be more timely than TWA has been of late, or what’s the point? I believe he likes to drink old Burgs with King Angry and the clan, so that gives some street cred, but it remains to be seen whether TWA wishes to emphasize Burgundy or leave it to Meadows.

[G_D_y_e_r]

Am I reading this correctly–Robert Parker is handing over his coverage of all current release CA wines to a specialist currently focused upon Italian wines?

Very interesting! Does this mean acidity will be emphasized more in reviews of CA wines? If so, I’m intrigued to see where this will be headed.

[Cris_Whetstone]

This will be interesting for California big boys. I just don’t see Galloni gushing over all the wines RMP has over the years. Laube just made a lot of friends but he isn’t getting any younger.

In the bigger picture one has to wonder what this will mean to the public and retailers to whom Parker’s scores were important. I’m sure for a short time they will follow Antonio but when his scores are lower and his palate proves to be different then they will be out in the breeze so to speak. This will help Wine Spectator in some respects. How long until Laube retires though? Is there someone over there that is the heir apparent to him?

[Gordon_ZenMasterOfZin_Ng]

Is it me, or didn’t I see a dozen more threads just like this one…earlier??? Got to stop taking those acid trips, really fooks wit yer mind!!!

Guys, guys, enough with the rampant speculation, don’t u have anything better to do (as Parker would probably admonish )?

@Jeff Cassetta

Eventually, Bordeaux and the Rhone will be handed over to Neal and RMP will only do “What about Now’s” and the Hedonist Gazette…living the good life.

^[1]

@Roy Hersh

rich g r a h a m wrote:

This likely means Galloni will be > required > to start grade inflating. That > has to be > part of the deal. Suckling and others are carving out their niche appealing to retailers rather than consumers with the uber-high scores. The WA will not put up with being a Burghound consumer friendly reviewer versus a shill for retailers/wineries…

Really?

The comment above can’t even be considered speculation, more like attention seeking.

If AG does commit to writing full time, there’s no reason why he couldn’t cover all those regions. Look at how many areas Parker reviewed in his prime. I agree that Neal will eventually wind up with Bdx and the Rhone regions, so there’s no reason for him to move on. <[pure speculation ]

D Neal writes very well, has a good palate and needs more to cover while he patiently waits for RP to give up Bdx and the Rhone.

^[2]

I was just smokin some killa puna buddah & tripping the light fandango on shrooms…when i had a positively transcendental, mindboggling, ‘Parkerest’ enlightening experience… The P-man & Jeff Leve & I were suxin down a Jero of '89 Cuvee Jacques Perrin, 'nad all three of us were transported into the heavens!

No, really!!!

At this awe inpiring moment, that moment of infinite clarity…it became so obivious that the P-man’s most trusted and loyal minion— we all agreed; Jeff Leve would eventually (after, like Rovani, Gallani is lambasted for his Cali scores and the ‘he just doesn’t “get Cali wines” revolt’ against him) become the heir apparent @the WA for reviewing Bdx/Rhone & Cali wines… viscosity of motor oil 100pts Leve is such a natural, Do’h.

Moreover Parker is not going to sell the WA, that’s his baby child of 3 decades…Shirley u can’t be serious???

He will no more give up control of it than Steve Jobs of Apple (though Jobs may die kickin).

@Lewis Dawson

As for Antonio, I have a favorable impression, and willing to see if he can or will become relevant to Burgundy fiends. If he aspires to that, he better be more timely than TWA has been of late, or what’s the point? I believe he likes to drink old Burgs with King Angry and the clan, so that gives some street cred, but it remains to be seen whether TWA wishes to emphasize Burgundy or leave it to Meadows.

Huh? Drinks with King Angry & the “clan”??? The clan of Angry Men of John Kapon’s winepr0n fame, gives Antonio ‘street cred’??? Shirley u can’t be serious? I would say the opposite. Like Burghound hanging with the same group, which has special guest appearances from Rudy K. & Eric Greenberg? Drinking fake or questionable wines gives Burghound or Antonio ‘street cred’…how so?


That is all…peace out

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1. pure speculation ↩︎

2. pure speculation ↩︎

[Paul_Chiu]

“David Schildknecht, who will continue with his other areas of responsibility but will be freed from covering the Cote d’Or and Chablis.”

I’m sorry but was covering the Cote D’Or and Chablis that horrible such that he needed to be freed from it?

[Nick_Ryan]

@Paul Chiu

“David Schildknecht, who will continue with his other areas of responsibility but will be freed from covering the Cote d’Or and Chablis.”

I’m sorry but was covering the Cote D’Or and Chablis that horrible such that he needed to be freed from it?

I would love to be freed from not being sent on all-expenses-paid trips to Burgundy to taste 1000s of wines…

[Bill_Klapp_deactivated]

@Steve Nordhoff

Say goodbye to regular CA 100 pointers.

Say goodbye to 100-pointers, PERIOD. Ken, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the 1996 Krug Clos de Mesnil, the 1989 Giacosa Barolo Collina Rionda, the 1971 Monfortino and the 1978 Monfortino are the only four wines ever to receive an “official” or Hedonist Gazette or other “unofficial” 100 from Antonio. Antonio’s palate, unlike Parker’s, is accepting of many different styles, and he does like some internationally styled Supertuscans and other luxury Italians, so all CA hope is not lost, but I suspect that the “100s” are…

[RichSteinberg]

Transitions in business are always challenging. Robert Parker is the brand. I know that everyone has tremendous respect for Antonio but it will be very interesting if a “Robert Parker” rated wine will continue to carry its weight. My guess is that the market will adjust but it is certainly the risk to the brand.

[rich_g_r_a_h_a_m]

@Alan C h a n

@GregT

It’s not a knock to Antonio at all, but Parker made some of the CA wineries. It’s not clear Antonio will have the same clout, regardless of his abilities. This may even be a boost for Suckling in terms of having some CA credibility.

Greg, I think it’s important to consider what Galloni’s and Suckling’s take on Italy was like. I’m no expert on Italy, but if you take Brunello as an example, it seems to me one of those guys likes real Brunello and the other goes apeshit over spoofy ones. I know which one I’d put dollars toward first. Having said that, there may well be an arms race toward who gives higher points, in which case, the outcome may be different.

I completely agree.

[Bill_Klapp_deactivated]

@Steve Nordhoff

Say goodbye to regular CA 100 pointers.

Say goodbye to 100-pointers, PERIOD. Ken, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the 1996 Krug Clos de Mesnil, the 1989 Giacosa Barolo Collina Rionda, the 1971 Monfortino and the 1978 Monfortino are the only four wines ever to receive an “official” or Hedonist Gazette or other “unofficial” 100 from Antonio. Antonio’s palate, unlike Parker’s, is accepting of many different styles, and he does like some internationally styled Supertuscans and other luxury Italians, so all CA hope is not lost, but I suspect that the “100s” are…

[rich_g_r_a_h_a_m]

@Eric LeVine

@rich g r a h a m

This likely means Galloni will be required to start grade inflating.

Have you ever met Antonio?

Eric,
My comment was meant to be a little tongue in cheek and a little bit of truth. I really like Antonio’s reviews. If you buy a Galloni 95 pointer, it’s likely to be excellent and ageworthy. He seems to have integrity and a great palate. That said, there are market pressures. Have you seen a lot of retailers selling 06 Brunellos using Suckling’s high reviews or Galloni’s more conservative ones? Most people only know a wine’s rating when their retailer tells them. The retailer chooses which to tell. If Halliday rated wines conservatively, would we have ever heard of him? Do retailers use WE ratings when the rating is 89 or only 94?

I just question like others whether all of these 96-100 point CA wines that don’t age great will all of a sudden be 93-96 pointers with a complete disconnect from past scoring and instead use traditional Galloni scoring. That would be a nice change, but would potentially in itself question the past WA scores. And it will be interesting to see.