Comments on: Mondovino: shaky, not stirring

By: nico

nico — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 02:46:51 +0000

Just figured out that this is much better if you watch the ten-part dvd–ideas are far more clear, but obviously, no way could he have a theatrical release of that proportion.
And yes, there’s an amazing sense of humor at work in the longer work.

By: Glenn Harrington

Glenn Harrington — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:15:38 +0000

I’m trying to view this in the 5.3.354 version of the google chrome browser and the background looks kinda messed up. I think you should it out.

By: Liquid Memory by Jonathan Nossiter – reviews | Dr Vino's wine blog

Liquid Memory by Jonathan Nossiter – reviews | Dr Vino's wine blog — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:14:22 +0000

[...] Even though its themes were widely discussed in the wine world, audiences did not flock to see Nossiter’s 2004 documentary, Mondovino, which racked up only $200,000 in box office gross according to IMDB. (Sideways was north of $100 million, by contrast.) I found Mondovino to be shaky, not stirring. [...]

By: Dave Erickson

Dave Erickson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:56:56 +0000

I just happened upon this and couldn’t resist. I think you’re taking “Mondovino” far too seriously. How do I know? Because you never mentioned the dogs!

The movie is less documentary than it is entertainment. I’ve seen it several times now and I’m convinced that Rolland knew he was being set up to play the villain, and decided to give Nossiter what he wanted. The various references to Nazi collaboration are more melodrama than anything else. Even the heartwarming tale of the de Montille family seems a bit contrived after a while.

I do think Parker and especially James Suckling got exactly what they deserved; every time Parker says “As an American…” I want to slap him upside the head. And Suckling in particular seems to have no clue as to how corrupt he actually is.

By: Dr Vino’s wine blog » Blog Archive » Verbatim: Parker and Nossiter

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:25:25 +0000

[...] “Mondovino: shaky not stirring” [Dr. [...]

By: Jay Miller

Jay Miller — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:50:45 +0000

I generally agree with your review. Nossiter clearly had an agenda (which is fine) but some participants got slashed pretty badly (undeservedly) while others got puffed up. An example of the latter, Hubert de Montille was portrayed as a crotchety old farmer in his denim overalls dedicating his life to preserving the old way of making Burgundy. In fact, de Montille is a prominent Parisian lawyer whose winery is a hobby. James Suckling probably deserved the Borat treatment he received bur Michel Rolland recommends “micro-oxygenation” to a relative handful of his many clients. Neal Rosenthal, one of the traditionalist heros, comes off as slightly crazed, like someone who forgot to take their lithium. Poor Robert Mondavi didn’t have a clue what was going on because he is deaf while Michael exhibited the hubris (making wine on Mars) which probably helped lead to the sale of the company. For those who only saw the film in the theater, the DVD has at least an hour of additional material, some of which is good stuff. Parker is asked how he likes de Montille’s wine and he says, “I can’t drink that shit”.

By: Dr Vino’s wine blog » Blog Archive » Meeting Michel Rolland

Dr Vino’s wine blog » Blog Archive » Meeting Michel Rolland — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:59:52 +0000

[...] Michel Rolland, the globetrotting consulting enologist, is perhaps best known for playing the role of Mephistopheles himself in the documentary Mondovino. He was shown cackling in the back seat of his limousine smoking cigarillos and urging various winery owners in Bordeaux to “mico-oxygenate.” The film portrayed him as on par with Robert Parker, the Emperor of Standardization and Globalization (read my review of Mondovino here). [...]