Comments on: Broadbent sues, California’s anxiety, NY retail, wine cheaper than water

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:04:25 +0000

NY wine laws aren’t going to be changing anytime soon. We can’t even get our state senators to play nice with each other, much less vote on bills. (Unless, of course, they’re voting on a pay raise.)

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:37:37 +0000

Michael Broadbent clearly has very strong standards, but to give him a pass because of this, without reading, what I think is an exceedingly well researched and written book, is not right. Read the book come to your own conclusions – the only thing ficticious in the book may be the provenance of the “Th. J” bottles.

By: Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Jim Gordon’s tips were supposed to be funny right?

By: Morton Leslie

Morton Leslie — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:17:33 +0000

Rarely in the wine business do you ever run into individuals with the values and ethical standards of Michael Broadbent. From my viewpoint it is impossible that he would invent a bid, hire a shill, or do anything that would violate the trust of the bidder at auction. I can see how he might trust someone he shouldn’t or be fooled about a wines provenance, but never would he intentionally mislead. If the book does accuse him of this, I would look at the book as a work of fiction.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:22:21 +0000

Hi Dylan, I can’t speak to his claim directly but I do think it is an excellent book. Throw it in your beach bag this summer!

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:01:55 +0000

Haha, Tyler. I believe that’s your first “gulp” and its premiere couldn’t be more appropriate. It’s never comforting to be on the recieving end of a lawsuit. Do you agree with the claim? I haven’t read The Billionaire’s Vinegar, so I’m not familiar with the passage to which Broadbent holds issue.

By: Doug Smith

Doug Smith — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:01:06 +0000

Re. cheap wine, I have seen normal .750 bottles of wine selling for under a Euro in spanish grocery stores.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:44:30 +0000

The “medallion system” would totally kill the small wine shops. I find that to be more dangerous than supermarkets selling wine under the current licensing program. Of course, there are plenty of people already group-buying (under the radar), but making it legit would really hurt the smaller guys who can’t make the 20-case deals. One more reason I’m glad we sold our shop in Westchester.