Comments on: The X’d files: an exchange not seen on eRobertParker.com

By: But everybody has a point…. : Epikurus

But everybody has a point…. : Epikurus — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:14:36 +0000

[...] Dr. Vino, aka Tyler Colman, has got it all right here. [...]

By: Tango, hora cero: ¡Los Premios El Botellazo 2009! (2) « La otra botella

Tango, hora cero: ¡Los Premios El Botellazo 2009! (2) « La otra botella — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:17:09 +0000

[...] llevó a muchos miembros de la comunidad de eRobertParker.com a cuestionar a su ídolo seriamente. Hubo episodios de censura, hilos cerrados y todas esas cosas tan bonitas que se dan en los foros cultureteros de discusión [...]

By: Grâce au Net, nous sommes tous des œnologues | MONDIALNEWS | Actualites et communiques de presse relayes par Google Search, google recherches, google blog et Google Actualites

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:16:11 +0000

[...] a incité Tyler Colman, blogueur œnologue qui écrit sous le pseudo Dr. Vino, à demander des explications à Parker et Miller sur la conduite de ce [...]

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:48:23 +0000

A lot of us seem to forget that wine critics are human too. It’s unfortunate that some people seem to take them at their word when they claim that the preferential treatment they receive has “no effect on their ratings whatsoever.” Maybe some of their opinions are genuine and honest—but it’s an insult to our intelligence to think ALL their reviews are fair and on the level. How do we know a 93 point review isn’t a “I’ll Gift You, and You Gift Me” trade-off? We don’t.

The good news is as communication (Blogging, Twitter) continues to change the way we obtain information, the more informed and confident we will get in our own tastes—and the less people will rely on the Parkers and Millers and Heimoffs!

By: Ronald Bard

Ronald Bard — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:07:38 +0000

Wow–I found a link to this site via Mike Steinberger over at MSN…great stuff. My kudos to Dr. Vino, too for getting the word out there!

It was only a matter of time before someone exposed the full scope of corruption, temptation, nepotism and goes on inside the wine industry. I find myself asking why so many people take the opinions of “Professional” wine critics like Parker, James Laube, and Steve Heimoff, the editor at “Wine Enthusiast” as gospel. It’s no secret that a lot of these guys are arrogant, self-important hacks who have sustained their careers by perpetuating an “expert credibility.” They exploit the subjectivity of wine; What makes THEIR palate any different than YOUR palate?? Ask yourself next time you read Wine Spectator or spend your hard-earned money on a wine regarding their endorsement. TRUST YOUR OWN TASTE!!

It’s good that the internet has allowed more of your voices to be heard. As for Parker, Laube, and Heimoff…”The Emperor has no clothes”…and I’m happy to see more people are realizing it, too.

By: Slate.com on Bob Parker being a Douche « I’m a Very bad man

Slate.com on Bob Parker being a Douche « I’m a Very bad man — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:56:09 +0000

[...] junkets. (All this emerged after I inquired about one of Miller’s trips during a spirited e-mail exchange with Squires, which prompted Tyler Colman, a wine writer who blogs under the name Dr. Vino, to ask [...]

By: Götzen-Dämmerung: La encuesta de la semana « La otra botella

Götzen-Dämmerung: La encuesta de la semana « La otra botella — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:08:44 +0000

[...] Spectator seriamente cuestionada. El mismo Robert Parker no la ha tenido muy fácil últimamente, cuestionándose el código ético de su Wine Advocate en cuanto a la forma en que no lo obedecen algunos de los “empleados” parkerianos. [...]

By: ¿Soy un frustrado de la vida? « La otra botella

¿Soy un frustrado de la vida? « La otra botella — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:00:33 +0000

[...] que hemos estado cuestionando el código de ética que rige a su Wine Advocate desde que cierto post en el blog de Dr. Vino… Bueno, ya conocen ustedes que me leen diligentemente esa historia y sus [...]

By: » Robert Parker: ‘This Jihad’, ‘Extremists’ and ‘Blobbers’ - Bordeaux Wine Blog

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:24:56 +0000

[...] the story, Parker hit out at bloggers and others in the forum on his website, which in turn is controlled with a heavy hand by one of the alleged guilty parties, Mark [...]

By: Michel Beauchamp

Michel Beauchamp — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:12:27 +0000

Again, Nigel, that was the theory I expressed a few posts ago (April 29th) using different words. The man used to have a wonderful sense of humor (or humour, I guess, for you Brits).

It’s a shame really, as I’m sure somewhere there’s the real Mark Squires shouting to be free. Reminds me of the title of an old Harlan Ellison short story: “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream”.

By: NigelW

NigelW — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:21:59 +0000

The “Squires” board has become a sort of Stepford Wives place now. There is no place for any sort of subversive humour. In the last couple of days he has deleted a thread on a wine dinner at my home by Nicos Neocleous, apparently only because it mentioned my name. He has also put Alex and Phil Wilkins on pre-approved posting (i.e. censorship) for questioning that action.

That sort of Stalinist behaviour is why I asked him to remove me from his board (and for the record he didn’t ban me)

I hosted Squires in the UK for several meals, and met him elsewhere several times. He is not the person I knew a few years ago any more. Perhaps the pressure of his employment by Parker is getting to him?

By: Alex Anthopoulos

Alex Anthopoulos — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:52:57 +0000

Here is the link to a thread on the UK wine forum site which was also posted on the eBob forum and then deleted by Mr Squires:

http://www.wine-pages.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=020564

Can any sane person tell me what is in the content of this thread that should have it deleted?

Alex

By: Michel Beauchamp

Michel Beauchamp — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:21:11 +0000

I’m happy to see that Alex’s experience is almost parallel to mine.

The less said about the Nigel Williams’ debacle, the better it will be for eBob’s Board reputation.
))

By: David Klinger

David Klinger — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:49:17 +0000

alex, as someone that has been banned, at least once by mark, i can’t put all of it on him. true, many folks find the entire leve ‘thing’ absurd, if people stay focused on wine or wine criticism, and refrain from making the comments personal, mark let’s them stand. so i hold my tongue, and try to quickly pass over leve’s comments (can’t ignore a moderator unfortunately). and as you say, the squire’s BB is still is the best BB around… cheers,david

By: Alex Anthopoulos

Alex Anthopoulos — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:24:19 +0000

I have been lurking and reading these comments and now I too must add my thoughts … I joined the eBob BB back in Nov 2002 and for the first two to three years it was fantastic. I met many fellow oenophiles both locally and overseas and now count many as good friends. I also interacted with Mr Squires outside of his BB as we both were on the board of the Philadelphia chapter of the Alliance Francaise; indeed, I was his assistant at the Bastille Day fete in July 2003 when the Constitution Center was officially opened in Philadelphia and JM Cages poured his Bordeaux wines. Somewhere and sometime in 2005 things began to fall apart — a great deal of cyber-bullying was permitted, favoritism shown, dissenting voices squelched, etc. Without rehashing these and other gory details, three seminal events then occured which have led me to greatly reduce my time there and to NOT renew my eBob subscription:

1. It became obvious that my private messages were being read by one or more moderators.
2. Leve was made a moderator.
3. Nigel Williams was essentially banned from the BB.

I just returned from a trip to the UK to visit Nicos N and we dined at Nigel’s house one night; Nicos’ notes from this lovely dinner were quickly deleted by Mr Squires as Nigel was mentioned in them. After complaining, I now find all my posts are being “previewed” by the moderator prior to their being posted.

Having met Neal Martin on this recent trip to London, I was actually contemplating resubscribing to eBob but not will not do so, and I am not the only former or potential paid subscriber who feels this way. If any of those who make their living from the eBob enterprises read this, please realize that you are being hurt financically by the actions of this man.

Cheers!

Alex