Irregular Update

                 Sydney Time

           Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008

Welcome to this weeks Irregular Update which has quite a bit for your reading pleasure.

Last weeks Snippet titled "Hunting Season" which briefly commented on the feeding frenzy of deranged and deluded wine hunters, all out to bag the big trophy, after finding an inexpensive wine rated 97 points, the same as Grange and Hill of Grace, received some feedback. However those comments paled into insignificance in comparison to the furore that took place on the Mark Squire/Robert Parker Forum in relation to James Halliday's comments on the Sparky Marquis, Molloydooker wines. Halliday said, "As the tasting notes will make clear, the primary market for the wines will be the US, and that market should add 5 points to each of my scores." The reaction was explosive and the thread was eventually locked. Much speculation was made about Halliday's comments; some thought he was having a cheap shot at Parker, whilst some thought he was insulting Americans. What he was actually doing is explained in this Snippet titled, "Yanks get their Knickers in a Twist."  (Next week there will be a full review of the latest Halliday Companion.)

As well as the Snippet, a couple of new Funnies have been posted. (One is decidedly politically incorrect but completely wine related.) They can be accessed from the home page.

This weeks article continues the "Wine Blog" story that started last week. Part Two of the story covers blogs that will be of interest to Australian wine lovers, as well as those that love Australian wine. Both the good and the bad have been examined, along with where this whole movement is headed. Finally the question posed in the introduction, "Is the free information worth what you pay for it?" is answered. Part Two can be found here. The TORBWine Links Page has been updated to include the best of the Australian relevant wine blogs.

No tasting notes this week but my throat infection has finally cleared up, so there will be some tasting notes next week.

The News section has been busier than normal this week. Some of the stories of possible interest include:

• Aussie wine exports hit record $3bn

• CSIRO predicts sour future for grapes

• The EU wants farmers to tear up vines to drain the 'wine lake'

• Moet faces 'serious' supply problems

• Cancer risk from two glasses of wine

• Red Wine May Protect the Brain from Alcohol-Related Damage, Study Finds

• Casella Wines is expanding its Yellow Tail line-up in the US.

• The New Zealand wine industry expects to overtake wool in export earnings in the next few years.

• Screw-Cap Wine Tastes Like Corked Wine, Study Shows

Those stories and more can be found here.

This week quote: "When it comes to wine, I tell people to throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew. The best way to learn about wine is the drinking." -  Alexis Lichine

Until until next week....  Cheers!

Ric

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