James Suckling Retires from Wine Spectator, WSJ blog reports

[Robin Garr]

James Suckling Retires from Wine Spectator
By Will Lyons

James Suckling, the U.S. wine critic who has covered Bordeaux, Port, Italy and vintage cigars for the Wine Spectator, has retired from the company.

In a short statement posted on the magazine’s online bulletin board, Managing Editor Thomas Matthews wrote: “James played a key role as Wine Spectator became the most widely read wine publication in the world. He has decided to take a different path. We wish him well.”

The departure of Mr. Suckling, who joined the magazine in 1981 and was the European bureau chief since 1988, leads to a major reorganization of its coverage.

According to the magazine, Senior Editor Bruce Sanderson will oversee coverage of Italy; James Molesworth, who now covers the Rhône and the Loire, will add Bordeaux to his responsibilities; and Managing Editor Kim Marcus, who reviews the table wines of Portugal, will now take responsibility for Port.

Significantly, the changes will also mean that all tastings will move to New York.

Full blog report in The Wall Street Journal:
http://blogs.wsj.com/wine/2010/07/15/ja ... spectator/

Is the fact that no one has commented on this yet an indication of shock . . . . or indifference?

Is the fact that no one has commented on this yet an indication of shock . . . . or indifference?

Around these parts I would say the latter.

But there's a big thread on Berserkers with people who care.

[Robin Garr]

indifference?

That's it for me. If I ever had any interest in Suckling's reports, which is doubtful, I lost it after his appearance in Mondovino in which he languidly laughed off his cozy relations with the high-end wine makers.

[David M. Bueker]

My (free) subscription to WS lapsed about 2 years ago, and all I miss are the Matt Kramer articles.

The only reason the thread has any life on Sergejerkers is that it allows conspiracy theories and bashing. Any love expressed for Wine Spectator is merely a turnaround backlash because of the hatred of The Wine Advocate.

A tragic loss to the field of wine journalism.

A tragic loss to the field of wine journalism.

Oliver, don't worry, he's not retiring - just leaving the Spec. I can feel your trauma, as his preferences so clearly match your own.

Decanter had a piece
http://www.decanter.com/news/300137.html

I never thought overall his Bordeaux coverage was awful, but I certainly did not match his tastes in Italian wines.

The only reason the thread has any life on Sergejerkers is that it allows conspiracy theories and bashing. Any love expressed for Wine Spectator is merely a turnaround backlash because of the hatred of The Wine Advocate.

Different opinions on wineberserkers as a forum are also available

regards

Ian

[David M. Bueker]

The only reason the thread has any life on Sergejerkers is that it allows conspiracy theories and bashing. Any love expressed for Wine Spectator is merely a turnaround backlash because of the hatred of The Wine Advocate.

Different opinions on wineberserkers as a forum are also available

But not encouraged!

A tragic loss to the field of wine journalism.

Oliver, don't worry, he's not retiring - just leaving the Spec. I can feel your trauma, as his preferences so clearly match your own.

Decanter had a piece
http://www.decanter.com/news/300137.html

I never thought overall his Bordeaux coverage was awful, but I certainly did not match his tastes in Italian wines.

An incisive and contrarian view of the field, certainly; for example, none of the last WS Top 100 came from south of Tuscany, in contrast to the general perception that southern Italy is now an excellent source of fine wine. I would never have had the courage to publish such a list...

[David M. Bueker]

Southern Italy is a great source of wine, but are specific, outstanding wines readily available in many markets? One of the stated criteria of the list is availability, so they rarely reward small lots or wines that are hard to find.

JS, I will not miss him too much. Matt K always an interesting read, pity though about the brutal Italian book he wrote a while back.

Southern Italy is a great source of wine, but are specific, outstanding wines readily available in many markets? One of the stated criteria of the list is availability, so they rarely reward small lots or wines that are hard to find.

Just looked at list. Sticking to Italians, there are 14 wines in top 50 (13 Tuscans, 1 Piedmont). I'm pretty geeky, yet several were new to me, and so looked up on Winesearcher 2 of the least familiar to me. The La Massa Giorgio Primo- 1700 cases. Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro Il Bosco Syrah 1300 cases. Not exactly huge production. There are plenty of top quality producers in Campania and Sicily for example who make larger quantities than that and are extensively distributed in US.

[David M. Bueker]

But then WS never gave much coverage to S. Italy in the first place, so the wines don't make the radar.

A tragic loss to the field of wine journalism.

Oliver, don't worry, he's not retiring - just leaving the Spec. I can feel your trauma, as his preferences so clearly match your own.

Yup....that's gotta be it...give ol' Oliver an Italian wine w/ a ton of new/toasty FrenchOak and a healthy dollop of Cabernet & Syrah
and he waxes poetic!!!!
Tom

I had thought that Sucking's overseas base helped shield him from the group-think mindset that seemed to plague to majority of the reviewers. He seemed to maintain consistency over the years, his palate not prone to migrate to the next hot wine trend as predictably as the other staffers.

My (free) subscription to WS lapsed about 2 years ago, and all I miss are the Matt Kramer articles.

The only reason the thread has any life on Sergejerkers is that it allows conspiracy theories and bashing. Any love expressed for Wine Spectator is merely a turnaround backlash because of the hatred of The Wine Advocate.

Hi David,

I let my subscription lapse this year. I agree with you as Kramer was my favorite and I do miss his articles. I also liked some of the food matching articles. The rest of it I do not really miss much.

But then WS never gave much coverage to S. Italy in the first place, so the wines don't make the radar.

This is circular; my question would be why don't they? I think the rise of the South is a noteworthy trend for two reasons: firstly, because it's new and newsworthy, especially in the case of the extraordinary white wines that are coming from down there these days; and secondly because there are so many amazing wines being made in the south (especially Campania) that covering Italy without giving these wines their due doesn't make any sense.

[David M. Bueker]

But then WS never gave much coverage to S. Italy in the first place, so the wines don't make the radar.

This is circular; my question would be why don't they? I think the rise of the South is a noteworthy trend for two reasons: firstly, because it's new and newsworthy, especially in the case of the extraordinary white wines that are coming from down there these days; and secondly because there are so many amazing wines being made in the south (especially Campania) that covering Italy without giving these wines their due doesn't make any sense.

Do the rich and vacuous travel there? Is there an emergence of luxury spas? If not then it's hard to pen lifestyle pieces to accompany the wine notes.

Do the rich and vacuous travel there? Is there an emergence of luxury spas? If not then it's hard to pen lifestyle pieces to accompany the wine notes.

http://www.capri.net/en/spa

Right, Capri, the Amalfi generally, the Costa Smeralda on Sardinia...

[Robin Garr]

Right, Capri, the Amalfi generally, the Costa Smeralda on Sardinia...

Okay, now let's follow this trail and see where it goes. Oliver, do you feel that any of the Amalfi or Sardinian wines - as lovable as they can be - posess the great quality, ageworthiness and sufficiency of production to match the best of Tuscany or Piemonte?

I'm the last one to stand up for Wine Spectator here, but as much as I love the regional wines of Italy, I do think it requires a rare combination of the place and its wines to meet the standard that its Winestyles of the Rich and Famous readers desire.

Do the rich and vacuous travel there? Is there an emergence of luxury spas? If not then it's hard to pen lifestyle pieces to accompany the wine notes.

http://www.capri.net/en/spa

Mike, my mother visited here often, I only managed 5 days in the mid-90s!! Seaweed bath anyone?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... d_Hall.jpg

Right, Capri, the Amalfi generally, the Costa Smeralda on Sardinia...

Okay, now let's follow this trail and see where it goes. Oliver, do you feel that any of the Amalfi or Sardinian wines - as lovable as they can be - posess the great quality, ageworthiness and sufficiency of production to match the best of Tuscany or Piemonte?

I'm the last one to stand up for Wine Spectator here, but as much as I love the regional wines of Italy, I do think it requires a rare combination of the place and its wines to meet the standard that its Winestyles of the Rich and Famous readers desire.

Robin,

I was just suggesting that there is plenty to write about in southern Italy other than the wines. But to pay the Spectator the compliment of assuming that wine quality is their main mission, if not by any means their only mission, in terms of sheer wine quality I don't think the Tuscany/Piedmont vs the Country Wines of Italy model is accurate any more. In my opinion the best southern reds from terroirs like Etna, Taurasi, Vulture and Vesuvius are outstanding wines by any measure, not just relative to their neighbors. Many of the best wines are made in limited or tiny amounts, but if that was a problem no-one would be writing about Burgundy, Hermitage or the best Barolo either.

As I suggested above the most newsworthy aspect of all is that the whites from southern Italy can be outstanding, and I think that Vermentino, Carricante, Falanghina and of course Greco and Fiano should all be acknowleged as capable of producing excellent wines when grown in the right place and made with care. Volcanic terroirs are relatively common in this area, producing inherently fascinating wines, sometimes own-rooted; I know of at least one DOC that is entirely own-rooted, which I've never seen before.

Judging from the notes I see on this board one problem in discussing all of this is that the diffusion of the better S. Italian wines in this country may be poor outside of a few markets. As always there is a yawning chasm in quality between the commercial examples and the artisan best.