John didn’t mention this part because he was probably too giddy with excitement, but it appears that if you like Black Forest Cake in your wine, you’ll be able to find all the wines with Black Forest Cake:
She added, “An accurately written, meaningful tasting note can offer more information about the wine’s style and flavour and therefore be even more valuable to consumers. With this in mind, we are adding an expansive range of filters to our wine search function, some of which are not currently found on any other wine website.
“This will help subscribers navigate the tasting notes with greater speed and ease,” she said.
That prospect does indeed make me giddy! But, sadly, I doubt she negotiated a deal going in to keep the rights to her own tasting notes, as Galloni did with Parker. So, I’d guess her database will only cover notes going forward, and she seems to have eschewed that term in the last year or so.
Johan Berglund is an excellent photographer who has worked with Neal Martin for many years, so she’ll have some nice photos.
Making catty comments about others, well one in particular, seems a strange way of launching your own business - people in glass houses, etc. That said, I wish her luck.
4 Likes
I mean this as a respectful question, as I do not know the answer, but does she actually have a following or such name recognition, that a venture like this can succeed?
if she truly would be giving independent thoughts and reviews, I would follow it event if for that alone.
1 Like
John didn’t mention this part because he was probably too giddy with excitement, but it appears that if you like Black Forest Cake in your wine, you’ll be able to find all the wines with Black Forest Cake:
She added, “An accurately written, meaningful tasting note can offer more information about the wine’s style and flavour and therefore be even more valuable to consumers. With this in mind, we are adding an expansive range of filters to our wine search function, some of which are not currently found on any other wine website.
“This will help subscribers navigate the tasting notes with greater speed and ease,” she said.
That prospect does indeed make me giddy! But, sadly, I doubt she negotiated a deal going in to keep the rights to her own tasting notes, as Galloni did with Parker. So, I’d guess her database will only cover notes going forward, and she seems to have eschewed that term in the last year or so.
We took the guillotine to that cake reference!
Johan Berglund is an excellent photographer who has worked with Neal Martin for many years, so she’ll have some nice photos.
Making catty comments about others, well one in particular, seems a strange way of launching your own business - people in glass houses, etc. That said, I wish her luck.
I agree with that in general, but my first requirement from any critic is an honest and completely independent appraisal of any wine they are scoring. Whether anything can be inferred by the 48 hour previews making for favored trade customers or winemakers coming to his events with plenty of wine, is hard to say. But like Calpurnia, “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion”. The appearances are not good, and if LPB can tell us what really is going on, more power to her.
2 Likes
Johan Berglund is an excellent photographer who has worked with Neal Martin for many years, so she’ll have some nice photos.
Making catty comments about others, well one in particular, seems a strange way of launching your own business - people in glass houses, etc. That said, I wish her luck.
I agree with that in general, but my first requirement from any critic is an honest and completely independent appraisal of any wine they are scoring. Whether anything can be inferred by the 48 hour previews making for favored trade customers or winemakers coming to his events with plenty of wine, is hard to say. But like Calpurnia, “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion”. The appearances are not good, and if LPB can tell us what really is going on, more power to her.
True, but I always have difficulty trusting someone who says they’re honest, especially when they cast aspersions on others!
Look at me, I’m independent! 100 point integrity! No conflicts of interest! I’m super ethical, unlike certain others!
I’m sure there are lots of insider tales to tell but I’m not sure her personal grudge against AG makes her the best person to do it.
And again, a weird way of asking “Hey, come and give me a “comfortable living”!”
Quite a contrast with jane Anson’s rather classy way of setting sail.
2 Likes
I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that the only thing I always felt was missing from those sales pages that list 8 magazines’ basically identical tasting notes is a 9th one.
5 Likes
She seems to be implying that a couple of the things she disapproves of are clearly things that Galloni does. The 48 hour preview and the deals with producers for wine at his events. It seems though, when Parker sold the Advocate, there were plenty of events surrounding that too. I do not know the ins and outs of either deal.
Net though; I shall not be subscribing as her palate is in no way aligned with mine. I do wish her luck though, and hope that she puts the spotlight on many of the conflicts and other behind the scenes shenanigans critics get up to. It seems that in a field where the reader is the ultimate audience and payer, there should be no conflicts, unless very clearly defined.
I’m not too familiar with her, but how would you describe her palate? What does she tend to prefer in terms of style?
Subscriber-only model makes sense in today’s world assuming she has the name recognition or can benefit off of her experience at WA.
Guess the real question for WBers is if she’ll have CT score integration?
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This thread will give you a sense of her palate.
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She managed to drive one project into the throes of mediocrity…I trust neither her palate or her editorial acumen.
2 Likes
Johan Berglund is an excellent photographer who has worked with Neal Martin for many years, so she’ll have some nice photos.
Making catty comments about others, well one in particular, seems a strange way of launching your own business - people in glass houses, etc. That said, I wish her luck.
I agree with that in general, but my first requirement from any critic is an honest and completely independent appraisal of any wine they are scoring. Whether anything can be inferred by the 48 hour previews making for favored trade customers or winemakers coming to his events with plenty of wine, is hard to say. But like Calpurnia, “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion”. The appearances are not good, and if LPB can tell us what really is going on, more power to her.
True, but I always have difficulty trusting someone who says they’re honest, especially when they cast aspersions on others!
Look at me, I’m independent! 100 point integrity! No conflicts of interest! I’m super ethical, unlike certain others!
I’m sure there are lots of insider tales to tell but I’m not sure her personal grudge against AG makes her the best person to do it.
And again, a weird way of asking “Hey, come and give me a “comfortable living”!”
Quite a contrast with jane Anson’s rather classy way of setting sail.
But then Jane is a classy lady.
Just FYI Parker started the Advocate railing against the English writers, many from the trade, who dominated the wine scene then.
Thanks Julian! I do often feel like Rain Man… But, you know what they say, sometimes a picture speaks a thousand reviews. So I hope to do my bit. We picked a hill to die on because we felt it was more than worth it.
Cheers
7 Likes
MChang
January 17, 2022, 5:43pm
33
Her leaving WA led me to resubscribe; addition by subtraction.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW launches ‘fiercely independent’ wine publication
Lots of interesting details here, but this stood out:
… Speaking to db last week ahead of the official launch of the new publication, Perrotti-Brown said that she and [her 50-50 partner Swedish photojournalist Johan Berglund] “had been playing with so many names” for the title, but “it was The Wine Independent that came to us, because it seemed to say exactly what we wanted.”
Continuing, she told db, “I don’t want to point fingers at anyone else’s business in particular, but people don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes of so many wine criticism publications, unless you’re in the business, and then you are like, ‘oh my God’.”
She added, “A consumer reading a publication that tells you what you should and shouldn’t buy has no idea there are other agendas behind the scenes, so we are saying we are independent in the name, there is never going to be any wriggle room on that, there is never going to be any compromise on integrity, and that comes with us [Perotti-Brown and Berglund] being majority shareholders, and the others being very much in agreement with our ethos – no-one is going to get greedy; we want to remain completely unbiased.”
Indeed, in the press release on the title’s launch, which was sent to db last week, the new publication is said to “return to the high ethical standards initially championed by Robert M. Parker, Jr. back when he started The Wine Advocate in 1978,” noting that “a reputable wine criticism publication should not accept money from any other wine-related entities” …
Truth is though that anyone who reads the reams of over-the-top praise and uniform 95+ scores given to established expensive wines can tell that critics have little freedom to be critical or even unenthusiastic in reviewing the major producers. There are a few exceptions (Jancis?) but that’s the rule. Thing is, she was very much one of the crowd in that respect so it makes me doubt her ability to challenge it.
But in the age of CT endless lookalike tasting notes for in-barrel wines are not what I look for from wine writers anyway. I want good wine writing that takes me inside the winemaking practices, viticulture, culture, history, geography, economics etc. of a region
2 Likes
Greg_K
January 17, 2022, 5:50pm
35
Johan Berglund is an excellent photographer who has worked with Neal Martin for many years, so she’ll have some nice photos.
Making catty comments about others, well one in particular, seems a strange way of launching your own business - people in glass houses, etc. That said, I wish her luck.
I agree with that in general, but my first requirement from any critic is an honest and completely independent appraisal of any wine they are scoring. Whether anything can be inferred by the 48 hour previews making for favored trade customers or winemakers coming to his events with plenty of wine, is hard to say. But like Calpurnia, “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion”. The appearances are not good, and if LPB can tell us what really is going on, more power to her.
Mark, Pompeia was the wife that should have been above suspicion (and was thus divorced)!
2 Likes
Greg_K
January 17, 2022, 5:55pm
36
I get the sense LPB has always viewed herself as the spiritual as well as actual successor to Parker, who always positioned himself in this manner (a protector of consumers first). She was fiercely protective of his legacy at The Wine Advocate whereas I think the current reviewers/editors are less focused on that legacy and more focused on their style of reviewing and reporting. So I’m not really surprised she has started this new publication with a cri de couer in this style.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW launches ‘fiercely independent’ wine publication
Lots of interesting details here, but this stood out:
… Speaking to db last week ahead of the official launch of the new publication, Perrotti-Brown said that she and [her 50-50 partner Swedish photojournalist Johan Berglund] “had been playing with so many names” for the title, but “it was The Wine Independent that came to us, because it seemed to say exactly what we wanted.”
Continuing, she told db, “I don’t want to point fingers at anyone else’s business in particular, but people don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes of so many wine criticism publications, unless you’re in the business, and then you are like, ‘oh my God’.”
She added, “A consumer reading a publication that tells you what you should and shouldn’t buy has no idea there are other agendas behind the scenes, so we are saying we are independent in the name, there is never going to be any wriggle room on that, there is never going to be any compromise on integrity, and that comes with us [Perotti-Brown and Berglund] being majority shareholders, and the others being very much in agreement with our ethos – no-one is going to get greedy; we want to remain completely unbiased.”
Indeed, in the press release on the title’s launch, which was sent to db last week, the new publication is said to “return to the high ethical standards initially championed by Robert M. Parker, Jr. back when he started The Wine Advocate in 1978,” noting that “a reputable wine criticism publication should not accept money from any other wine-related entities” …
it is rumored that Coates would pick up gratis a case of Chambertin at Rousseau as he left after each annual tasting . . .
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW launches ‘fiercely independent’ wine publication
Lots of interesting details here, but this stood out:
… Speaking to db last week ahead of the official launch of the new publication, Perrotti-Brown said that she and [her 50-50 partner Swedish photojournalist Johan Berglund] “had been playing with so many names” for the title, but “it was The Wine Independent that came to us, because it seemed to say exactly what we wanted.”
Continuing, she told db, “I don’t want to point fingers at anyone else’s business in particular, but people don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes of so many wine criticism publications, unless you’re in the business, and then you are like, ‘oh my God’.”
She added, “A consumer reading a publication that tells you what you should and shouldn’t buy has no idea there are other agendas behind the scenes, so we are saying we are independent in the name, there is never going to be any wriggle room on that, there is never going to be any compromise on integrity, and that comes with us [Perotti-Brown and Berglund] being majority shareholders, and the others being very much in agreement with our ethos – no-one is going to get greedy; we want to remain completely unbiased.”
Indeed, in the press release on the title’s launch, which was sent to db last week, the new publication is said to “return to the high ethical standards initially championed by Robert M. Parker, Jr. back when he started The Wine Advocate in 1978,” noting that “a reputable wine criticism publication should not accept money from any other wine-related entities” …
Truth is though that anyone who reads the reams of over-the-top praise and uniform 95+ scores given to established expensive wines can tell that critics have little freedom to be critical or even unenthusiastic in reviewing the major producers. There are a few exceptions (Jancis?) but that’s the rule. Thing is, she was very much one of the crowd in that respect so it makes me doubt her ability to challenge it.
But in the age of CT endless lookalike tasting notes for in-barrel wines are not what I look for from wine writers anyway. I want good wine writing that takes me inside the winemaking practices, viticulture, culture, history, geography, economics etc. of a region
I agree. This is why I enjoy Kermit Lynch’s writing.
1 Like
You guys are all far too easily seduced by the sudden appearance of the possibility of juicy insider gossip. We’ll see what happens when her investors and co-workers – all waiting for a payout that seems to be vanishing further and further into the hazy future – start demanding some pay/revenue.
I for one am not impressed by her taking pot shots at her competitors, her co-workers and her (past) self. I won’t be subscribing.
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The founder of this illustrious website allegedly has a penchant for gossip. He’s also lazy and has a narrow agenda.
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![[cry.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/853b6e76c6e8406be77a6727c2a27ad1672678b3.gif "cry"){kind=small}
Can’t imagine why.![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}