On the Serious Tip

Need some help. Have an 'issue' that needs advice, either respond on this board or send me an email:

jacob.gaffney@yahoo.co.uk

It's SERIOUS.

---

---

A quick stop in Portugal and you can see how wine is a direct reflection of the people. At least, in the Old World (Europe). Fine wines represent the golden elite. Trash wine is for the hobos. Table wines are for people like you and me, and show you and me what table wine people can be like over there.

Hmm. As my director often says, 'Jacob, that makes absolutely no sense.'

Like their modestly priced wines, the Portugese are a particularly peculiar people. One bottling, the 2004 Portal de Aquia contained four grapes: Tinta Roriz, Castelao, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. As far as we are concerned, that makes them the clown car of the luxurious circus that is the wine industry. How many more grapes can we cram in there?

Imagine seeing a California bottling with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot on the label. Well, in Napa Valley, they call that a 'Meritage.' In France, it's called Bordeaux. In Portugal, who gives a crap if you don't know what it's called?

The wine was thin, rusty, musty and seemed like it was reclining in the shade, instead of working in the field. Lazy bugger. 8.0

On the other hand, the 2004 Quinta Vista -- Castelao, Tinta Miuda, Camarate -- was around the same price, 5 pounds. But it was a different wine altogether. Juicy, pleasant with hints of overcooked caramel. And guess what? It tastes like wine! No identity problems here. Straight shooter. 8.6

Admittedly, knowledge on Portugese wines is sparse over here at Interwined. And with grape names such as Tinta No Comprenda, that climate is unlikely to change.

Now the serious issue. ABC recently announced a re-edit of its series on the September 11 attacks. Five years ago today. Little has happened in lower Manhattan, but plenty has happened in journalism. Although Clinton signed in the Telecommunications Act and appeared to be a great supporter of free speech, his administration is attempting to order a change of the ABC dramatized account of events leading up to that tragic moment when our lives changed forever.

IDEA: Next time you're making a cup of tea, don’t brew by the clock or by the color, instead brew by the SMELL. Keep sniffing at that bag floating in the hot water until it stinks like a perfectly brewed cupa. Apply to other forms of food preparation where necessary.

Now, Jacob Gaffney has been called some pretty nasty names before. After one conversation with John de Luca, then president of a California wine trade group, Jacob Gaffney actually had to look up some of the terms de Luca used in reference to his work. 'Pugnacious' seems to stand out most.

But, attempting direct manipulation of the press was never the norm. The climate, even in wine writing, is changing and Jacob Gaffney needs your help.

After an interview with a Lebanese wine producer on their decision to pull out of a 'Peace Tasting,' an email hit the inbox. Read it here:

Dear Jacob
Thanks to you too – on 2nd and rather alarming thoughts, you still cannot print anything about the Lebanese / Israeli tasting postponement. It’s still too soon.
I cannot be quoted and prefer not to say anything on this matter, the situation is still too sensitive and I would never want to be responsible for anything that happens to our dear friends in the Bekaa Valley.
This has just been confirmed to me from Lebanon and silence is the preferred option at the moment.
Please can you either cancel your piece regarding this or at the very least delay it until the climate is more favourable.
Peoples lives and livelihoods are far more important than a journalistic piece!
Thanks for your kind understanding and let’s speak again into September when we have further information about the 2006 harvest.
Kind regards
XXXX

Now, was this person being bossy? Or was he/she seriously telling a journalist not to 'follow the blood'? Is it possible that people lives would be endangered with such a piece and is yours truly over-blowing the issue? Or do you wish to tell Jacob Gaffney that 'the wine industry is nothing like the real news, in the real world, you self-important little prick!'

Give us your thoughts.