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The bombshell that Tim Atkin’s weekly wine column in the Observer is to be “slashed” to a three item laundry list (as Decanter gleefully reported on Monday) may have SA marketers reevaluating their guest list for the FIFA 2010 freebee in SA, but exporters need not fear a collapse of sales in Blighty as a consequence. For the connection between punditry and shifting stock is as clear as the link between astrology and predicting the future. While the first tier of commentators like Oz Clarke, Andrew Jefford and Jancis Robinson may have some effect, Tim was always a third order batsman. Heck, if having Wine Spectator rate Columella 95/100 (the best SA rating ever) resulted in zero sales in the US in the past 36 months for Eben Sadie, what value a Tip from Tim?
Tim Atkin
Tim describes himself as “not so much a gatekeeper as a vinous night club bouncer” and certainly this Vinnie Jones of Vino (albeit a rather small one) was certainly in the face of his local colleagues, calling SA wine writers “parochial, barely qualified fans with a typewriter” in Wine & Spirit magazine before offering his services as a UK barker for SA wine: “in the absence of a more robust domestic media… SA needs informed criticism from overseas.” Although with the rise and rise of SA wine blogs (www.winenews.co.za claim a 60% foreign audience) the categories of SA and foreign wine writer are becoming increasingly blurred. New York and London often supply more hits to Uncorked than Cape Town or even Bellville, according to Google/Analytics.
Of course as co-chair of the International Wine Challenge, Tim was only speaking to his book. Although the IWC did not cover itself in glory when it awarded the Oak Valley Chardonnay 2006 both a Gold Medal and a Certificate of Commendation after the wine was submitted twice by producer (commendation) and retailer (gold). Perhaps this is what Tim means by “reliable advice” punters need in a recession?
I am astonished that you have this view of Tim as I have always found him a most professional and lucid wine critic and someone who regularly visits this country and is very supportive of the wine industry here.
Just wish more foreign wine writers spent as much time here as Tim does.
I’m slightly surprised you can taste wine at all with so much apparent vitriol in your life.
Perhaps you can’t of course. Your blog posts seem to me mainly to attack and denigrate other people rather than talking about wine.
I just wonder what kind of wine writer would take so much apparent pleasure in the curtailing of the exposure of another wine writer. Especially a known supporter of his own country’s wines, in one of their principal export markets, and in the middle of a recession that is hitting producers the world over. Not a terribly good or wine-loving one it seems to me. If my post gets deleted then this would appear to confirm the above.
Neil
As I wrote the Tm Atkin news item for decanter.com, I can assure you there was nothing ‘gleeful’ in that report. You may, of course, have read it with glee.
Please clarify this in your above posting at your earliest convenience.
Regards
Jim
The Atkin’s Diet should save WOSA a few hundred grand which Sue can use to visit her daughter in England.
Tim,
You are a disgrace to the region and category. Next time you “write” an article do everybody a favor and research your facts….Something that people know dont tend to stand in your way. Sadie wines have been getting sold (maybe at a slower rate due to the economy) over the last 36 months.
Ouch Peter- you just made a right royal fool of yourself in one sweep of the pen. If you actually research YOUR facts you’ll see that the comment of Eben’s wines not selling was a statement by the man himself- from Pendocks blog:
:”Eben was in town with Cathy Marshall, showing off the latest additions to the wine list at the Butcher’s Shop & Grill in a rarely seen sight of the Mountain coming to Mohamed. “We export to 31 countries” continues Eben “but I haven’t sold a bottle of wine in the USA in 36 months.” This in spite of having the highest rated SA red by Wine Spectator magazine”
also if you put two and two together the comment was about the US market only, lastly Eben’s Columella was actually Tim Atkins highest rated SA Red in Decanter’s January issue- even being chopped from Observer he at least got a little four page article into Decanter prising SA wines in general.
so much for doing research or knowing what you’re talking about!
Revenge of the parochial, barely qualified fans, Tim. And about time, too!
Every man and his dog.
Conversation at a dinner party ranges far and wide, arguments flare up, people look each other in the eye while they debate, however heatedly, and the rules of engagement are simple. State your case firmly, defend your position with vigour, but never forget the basics of good manners.
Then came the anonymity of the weblog where every man and his blog can slag off every other man and his blog.
The dogs are smiling, they don’t take snide sideswipes, they are very upfront, they know a thing or two about breeding.
Every man and his dog.
Conversation at a dinner party ranges far and wide, arguments flare up, people look each other in the eye while they debate, however heatedly, and the rules of engagement are simple. State your case firmly, defend your position with vigour, but never forget the basics of good manners.
Then came the anonymity of the weblog where every man and his blog can slag off every other man and his blog.
The dogs are smiling, they don’t take snide sideswipes, they are very upfront and they know a thing or two about breeding.
I import the wines and sell them in the US…..so I should know? You have taken something out of context obviously.
sound like a politician Mr Clinton- “out of context”
just repeating what Eben stated, he gets the money from it being sold- assume he should also know…..- assume no apology from your side blasting Tim for comments he didn’t make in any way, shape or form?? – probably out of context again.
Atkin on Jamie Goode’s blog on 3 Jan:
“Chris, no one I know takes Neil Pendock seriously. He is a buffoon with a mediocre palate and a series of blunt axes to grind. Doesn’t he still live with his mother?”
If this is the best Atkin can do, no wonder the Observer is cutting him down to size. Pathetic!
A major drinks discussion forum in the UK has picked this ‘story’ up too. Nice PR Neil. Hello Chile…
To Nice One
Not really a big PR issue as most of us haven’t a clue what the discussion forum is that you allude to.
Blogs etc. draw only a few visitors each day, they are are certainly not bulk main-stream.
Please let us know the forum address and we can check it’s popularity on the web.
Neil
I’m confident that you will share in our delight that Tim ‘always a third order batsman’ Atkin MW has been head hunted by The Times and will have a weekly page in their new food and drink supplement. His first Times column will appear next Thursday 4th March.
The Facebook group – Save the Wine Column – set up after Tim’s Observer column was axed has attracted 1309 members.
Don’t you acknowledge that it is correct time to receive the loans, which would make your dreams come true.
Heya
Your blog post Atkin slashed – not many hurt in SA | Pendock Uncorked is
informative and well thought out, I will likely come back in order to read through your
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Phil
February 10, 2010 at 6:26 pmGood riddance to Toxic Tim – he was too dire for words!