Story & photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling GourmetTM
All rights reserved
The irrepressible Travelling Gourmet has a tete-a-tete with…
MON ami Sommelier Julien Drevon of gourmet haute cuisine restaurant Guy Savoy at Marina Bay Sands and hears his reactions to Robert Parker selling the Wine Advocate to a Malaysian businessman based in sunny Singapore.
As I imbibed bubbly Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose Champagne in a Zwiesel champagne flute, Julien who hails from France, told me, “It is good for Singapore…and will reflect well on Singapore as a wine centre. More wines will be exposed to consumers and open their mind to other wines, and not only wines from France & Bordeaux. It makes commercial sense for Robert Parker. C’est ‘mondialisation’ (globalisation).”
I asked, “I think the idea of an online edition ‘est bon idee’ (is a good idea)but do you think the wine reviews will still be objective now there is this commercial interest in the Wine Advocate?”
Julien remarked, “I think if Robert Parker is still tasting the wines, it will be the same…Instead of London, Hong Kong, Paris or New York, someone in Singapore buys the Wine Advocate. “C’est un coup, n’est pas?” (it’s a coup, isn’t it}
I commented, “So you think overall it is a good thing. What about having the Wine Advocate in a Chinese version to focus on China wines?”
Julien commented with a smile, “It is good for China and Asia…more different wines will be known to people.”
Relishing the uplifted peach notes and zesty lime finish of the Champagne, I thought that it may be a positive developement…
However, Robert Parker’s original idea of being an impartial Advocate (lawyer) for wine with NO overt or covert commercial interests involved to impart bias, has definitely gone the way of the Dodo with this sale. Think about it, Wine lovers…
A votre sante! {:-)
Normally I do not read post on blogs, however I wish to say
that this write-up very compelled me to take a look
at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite nice post.
LikeLike
Your kind and nice comments are very much appreciated! Thank you! {:-)
LikeLike
Are you based in the UK? {:-)
LikeLike
Thank you, I appreciate it. {:-)
LikeLike
Nice weblog here! Additionally your website quite a bit up very fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your affiliate hyperlink for your host? I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
LikeLike