495277 Mon Mar 03 08:20:06 -0800 2008 7 34 Wine 0 3454422 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/495276 Mon Mar 03 08:20:06 -0800 2008 28703 RicRios 1 3454511 the article is pretty fluffy and not that informative. Not really investigative, just a profile. Mon Mar 03 08:40:25 -0800 2008 3454422 50139 olivethegreat 1 3454601 Sorry, I am not entirely clear on what BevMo is? I get the sense that is is something distasteful. We do not appear to have BevMo here in Quebec. Mon Mar 03 09:01:08 -0800 2008 3454422 89969 moh 2 3455021 BevMo -- aka Beverages, and more! -- is the successor to Liquor Barn, a 104-store chain in California and Arizona which folded in the early 1990s. "BevMo," as it's called, has something like 30+ stores in California . . . and maybe one or two in Arizona. Cheers, Jason Mon Mar 03 10:38:47 -0800 2008 3454601 28122 zin1953 1 3455026 Certainly not news to the people in California who have shopped at BevMo over the years. I warned Wilfred about this when he initially took the job. (Disclosure: I've known Wilfred for probably 25 years or more, and consider him a friend.) Wilfred has a very good palate, and has been in the wine trade for a very long time, but there is -- IMHO -- no way someone in that position can remain 100% independent in terms of his or her reviews. Cheers, Jason Mon Mar 03 10:39:26 -0800 2008 3454422 28122 zin1953 2 3458104 I had met Wilfred Wong at the UGC Tasting in Santa Monica a short time ago. Boy was his lips, mouth, and teeth purple/red. This man is a copious taster.. and friendly as well.. Not fond of the store though.. To commercial and lacking touch for me.. Tue Mar 04 07:46:55 -0800 2008 3455026 97161 Foodandwine 1 3460820 You should never rely on one reviewers opinon of any wine. My tastes are my own and don't always line up with Parker, Squires or anybody else. Caveat emptor, don't spend money on wine if you don't know what you personally like, or know someone with similar tastes that recommend something. Tue Mar 04 19:38:44 -0800 2008 3454422 171290 Paul Weller 1 3467755 This is not directed at anyone here as I generally agree with all that has been said, but I need to vent on this topic. Please don't move this to the media board where I think it will get lost. As I read it, the only person with serious "concern" is a writer for the L.A. Times whose editor is telling him to write something that some one might actually read. So why not come as close as is legally possible to suggesting that BevMo is commiting consumer fraud, Did this guy get overcharged for a bottle of Montrachet one day at the BevMo in Hollywood? Does he owe money to the one blogger who seems to basically be the crux of the story yet interestingly won't go after Wilfred himself but conveniently puts the opinion out as one of "many wine lovers"? When I wrote for my college newpaper, I'd be questioned by my editor about why I had such an ambigious quote. Is that guy actually an expert on the opinions of wine consumers or does he just have a blog? The actual expert cited in the article--Professor Robert Smiley of UC Davis--endorses BevMo's practice as progressive retailing. This is just poor journalism. There is no there, there. Note the specific paragraph where BevMo has already dealt internally with conflict of interest issues by not making him one of the buyers or even reporting to any of them. And to "some winery grumbling"....look, every winery grumbles about every single retailer. So? Every winery wants good scores and grumbles a lot more about critics. Which might actually suggest Mr. Wong is sorta doing his job.... While it is nearly impossible to be unbaised in any way, it is naive to think other critics don't have their own little secret tendencies. A point here or there for the winery that helped out when your hotel reservations got cancelled. A little bump for the Chateau whose grounds remind you of your first time in France on your honeymoon. A few less points for the winery whose dog bit you.....;) It happens across the board. Having biases is different that committing fraud. And if BevMo is not committing fraud, why is there a story? I doubt becuase the Times was getting a raft of emails from consumer advocacy groups complaining about BevMo. And I should, like Jason, disclose that I have dealt professionally with BevMo and know Wilfred as well as having studied with Robert Smiley. Unlike Jason, I haven't been Wilfred's friend for 25 years and only met him briefly a couple of times. What I can say for sure is that amongst the people I know in the wine business, he is very well respected. If this reporter has some real investigative journalism that breaks the "Giant BevMo Fraud Case" then fine, run the story. But leave the silly speculation in the trash bin. Thu Mar 06 17:01:14 -0800 2008 3454422 96313 ellaystingray