Clarification

I certainly can't speak for the group, but my impression here (and in other wine fora) is that most people are ok with someone speaking about a wine they sell (wholesale or retail) as long as they disclose that interest and that on a long term basis that doesn't seem to be their primary goal. By latter I mean I did see one person elsewhere who seemed to disparage their main competitors and praise the wines they sold, and that's all they ever added to conversation. People soon got tired of it. Not the case here -certainly you have a history of providing wide reaching notes here and that kind of participation is most welcome. So I'll just say that as long as you note when it is a wine in which you have an interest (and in your case it's not as if you were the national distributor in any case) I personally look forward to your notes.

Pretty nice portfolio by the way, although stylistically the red Burgs aren't my favorite (though the quality is surely there). I'm pretty enthused about the '05 Austrians, have you tasted many yet?

Bi!! wrote:

Bill, Speaking only as myself here (which is all that any of us can do), I have enjoyed your informative and useful posts for years now. I can't imagine that anyone would take issue with you posting about a wine that you carry so long as you disclose your commercial relationship when you do. Even if you failed to do so, so long as you don't indulge in the "buy this now!" sort of rhetoric (and I know you're online behavior well enough to know how unlikely that it) I can't see why anyone but the most cynical should have any problem.

Mark Lipton

As Mark said, I'm sure that those of us who've read your notes over time would welcome such contributions. A little disclosure in the sig would likely forestall any other complaints.

-E

JOE, Its ok to come out of the closet!