NYTimes: Asimov On Rhys/KevinHarvey

Very nice/interesting article by EricAsimov on RhysVnyd/KevinHarvey in today's NYTimes:
NYTimes:AsimovOnRhys

I'm looking forward to Kevin's Nebb more than anything.
Tom

They will be cheering over on Beserkers!! Rhys fans there for sure.

They will be cheering over on Beserkers!! Rhys fans there for sure.

I'm cheering here too.

James good for you, are the wines available (in stores) in your area?

James good for you, are the wines available (in stores) in your area?

Bob, I am fairly sure that most, if not all, of the Rhys wines are sold on allocation. I think that perhaps some of the Alesia wines may have made it to retail sales, but I'm not even sure about that (now a moot point anyway since he's stopped the Alesia line).

Mark Lipton

James good for you, are the wines available (in stores) in your area?

These are mailing list only wines, though some may make it to restaurants. I am not on the list, but some in my wine drinking group are, so I have had a chance to taste these at times.

They also show up at auction for a bit more than release prices (some are on WineBid now, e.g.).

[David M. Bueker]

While it was a fun, quick read, I can't help but wonder what's the point. The wines are on allocation, the wait list is getting longer, so there's slim hope of non-initiates getting their hands on a bottle. Might as well write about luxury yachts.

Well, he was writing about Gentaz just a few days ago...

[David M. Bueker]

Well, he was writing about Gentaz just a few days ago...

Same point.

While it was a fun, quick read, I can't help but wonder what's the point. The wines are on allocation, the wait list is getting longer, so there's slim hope of non-initiates getting their hands on a bottle. Might as well write about luxury yachts.

At first I had a similar reaction (even though I'm not looking to buy the wines). But I don't think his goal was to write about wines that people should then go out and buy. It was to inform people about developments in CA wine culture, which it did very well.

Yes, I don't think Asimov is trying to be a "critic" or a buyer's guide.

I have a number of Rhys and Alesia wines in my cellar, all purchased via allocation..They have been quite good, especially the chardonnay..Only one clinker so far and Kevin made good on it..gave me a choice of several different wines as a replacement...apparently there was a problem with that particular wine..I stopped buying when the prices got beyond my pain threshhold

[David M. Bueker]

But I don't think his goal was to write about wines that people should then go out and buy. It was to inform people about developments in CA wine culture, which it did very well.

I would just have inserted something/anything regarding the (lack of) availability of the wines.

But I don't think his goal was to write about wines that people should then go out and buy. It was to inform people about developments in CA wine culture, which it did very well.

I would just have inserted something/anything regarding the (lack of) availability of the wines.

Maybe, but I read lots of stories about natural wines from, say, Italy that I'll never find cuz of low production, distribution issues, etc.

Why not read the article as info for folks who have a view of all/most CA wines as OTT, hig alcohol brutes with no sense of place? That there are elegant wines being made, as Rahsaan suggests?

[David M. Bueker]

Why not read the article as info for folks who have a view of all/most CA wines as OTT, hig alcohol brutes with no sense of place? That there are elegant wines being made, as Rahsaan suggests?

I did, but if I was not on the list I would be damned frustrated that I could not get them.

Why not read the article as info for folks who have a view of all/most CA wines as OTT, hig alcohol brutes with no sense of place? That there are elegant wines being made, as Rahsaan suggests?

I did, but if I was not on the list I would be damned frustrated that I could not get them.

So maybe this is more about David than Asimov

When you read about something that you cannot easily get then you become frustrated?

I read the article with interest. I've enjoyed Rhys in the past and I'm sure I would enjoy them in the future. But I'm not on the list and have no plans to try and buy any. There are too many good wines in the world to worry about each one.

[David M. Bueker]

Rahsaan,

I tire of your overreaching, but keep doing do so if it makes you happy.

I find it silly to not even mention the availability of the wines, as if people become interested in them they might actually want to acquire them. If that makes no sense to you then so be it.

Fin.

Ok, fair enough.