Some Required Reading

There is so much good wine writing and reporting going on these days that there are few excuses for anyone not to think for themselves when it comes to learning about wines. The best wine writers challenge you to think rather than tell you what to think. Best of all, it's all free. Here are some insightful examples from Lyle Fass and Thor Iverson, two writers always ready to challenge conventional wisdom:

Thank God for Neal Martin by Lyle Fass at Rockss and Fruit

Where Critics fear to tread by Thor Iverson at oenoLogic

Comments

[Thad]

I was just blogging yesterday about the "unspoken code" that exists amongst the wine press, whereby many focus only on the successes, while avoiding mention of any failures. Thor's post offers yet another case of how sad things have become in the wine industry. I admire Thor's courage for sharing his honest opinions, both positive and negative, and his conviction in standing up to those who can't accept constructive criticism. Thanks for sharing these writers with us, Craig.

[Thor Iverson]

Thanks, Craig.

And thanks, Thad. I very much enjoyed your own piece on this subject, too. In any case, it's nice to hear an encouraging word once in a while. Critics (who are actually critical) have a problem opposite that of winemakers who only hear the adulation, in that almost all we receive is carping...but I suppose there's some karmic justice in that. I can't imagine what it's like for a truly major critic who actually publishes anything negative; that so few do probably shows how wearing the blowback eventually becomes, and the "lack of space" justification is no less an excuse for being conveniently rational.

Anyway, both of you: keep up the good work.