1998 Vietti Barbera d'Alba Scarrone

[Botafogo]

Re "so called experts": Last night we had dinner with an amazing Champagne Grower and among the other guests was the Editor/Publisher of a major food and wine oriented rag who also contributes to scores of other publications. He was COMPLETELY ignorant of any quality zones or producers in Italy (which he visits regularly on other peoples dimes) outside of Toscana, Piedmonte and the Veneto (and he was a little shaky there)! He dismissed our discussion of lengendary winemakers Eduardo Valentini and Emedio Pepe with "but it's Montepulciano d'Abruzzi, how good could it be?" like he was your blue haired auntie saying "but, son, it's just Jazz....I'm sure Mr. Davis is a fine trumpeter but its not serious music, try some Beethoven". It was FRIGHTENING!!!!!!!!

He also admitted without shame to "never buying any wine so I have no idea about retailers or the marketplace" and "nearly dying of shame when forced to fly coach". This is a relevant taste maker for American wine drinkers????

And people wonder why we rant about the press so much, Roberto

[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 10-25-2000).]