tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post736468448520276234..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Charles Smith is a wine cartoon. Really.W. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-15445061407348913772010-10-04T17:03:47.080-07:002010-10-04T17:03:47.080-07:00Readers: If you commented on this post, you may be...Readers: If you commented on this post, you may be being sued.<br /><br />I have cut off comments on this post because of the lawsuit, but am posting this as a courtesy so that the anonymous commenters being sued have every chance to learn that legal action is being taken against them.<br /><br />Please DO NOT contact me if you are one of the commenters in question. If I don't know your W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-74726714275595821302010-07-29T10:29:16.438-07:002010-07-29T10:29:16.438-07:00Wow, the blog post was initially about Charles Smi...Wow, the blog post was initially about Charles Smith as literal and figurative cartoon. Seems like quite a bit of bile getting spewed because the man is a genuine character in every way.<br />Charles Smith is a master marketer - beginning with his own larger-than-life-midlife-regressing-to-teenage persona, right through to his iconic, eye-catching labels, all the way to the wine that he does or Friendly Vinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13445071253082497445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-90998857241632032072010-07-29T09:12:54.865-07:002010-07-29T09:12:54.865-07:00Charles sold House Wine a few years ago, AFAIK.Charles sold House Wine a few years ago, AFAIK.Daniel P.http://www.winetalk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-11376804231108571432010-07-28T17:28:05.924-07:002010-07-28T17:28:05.924-07:00I have been a "Winemaker" for about 14 y...I have been a "Winemaker" for about 14 years and have my MS in Oenology from the University of Adelaide. <br /><br />It is amazing to me that the size of the ego's in this industry. (Not just picking on Charles here)<br /><br />Basically all we do is take fruit and convert into a beverage with the help of a lot of little bugs. We are yeast herders, not gods.<br /><br /> There is no Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13165251198273669415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-51989232702254875122010-07-28T12:48:52.101-07:002010-07-28T12:48:52.101-07:00Oh, and one person claims he didn't make all o...Oh, and one person claims he didn't make all of his wines at the beginning of his career (he admits not making House Wine now). <br /><br />I don't see the importance of that -- Castle Rock isn't a worse company for having a good nose for purchased fruit. <br /><br />And it does raise the question, what exactly does a winemaker do? What does the winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery do, W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-65830501983291107782010-07-28T12:40:24.604-07:002010-07-28T12:40:24.604-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-23815833419076454922010-07-28T11:01:41.606-07:002010-07-28T11:01:41.606-07:00To summarize what people have been emailing me off...To summarize what people have been emailing me off the record, Charles has earned a reputation for intentional unpleasantness, both to his staff and outsiders. The reputation appears to be nationwide but I've heard from several people in Washington who don't like him, and who don't work for him. Nobody had a specific incident they wanted me to report here other than the widely W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-85977523879287530362010-07-28T08:27:00.743-07:002010-07-28T08:27:00.743-07:00Sorry, the quote was
"You could f*** up a bl...Sorry, the quote was<br /><br />"You could f*** up a blowjob" at HdR.<br /><br />Want to make sure Charles is accurately quoted.Daniel P.http://www.winetalk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-68780962079774632092010-07-27T20:57:10.894-07:002010-07-27T20:57:10.894-07:00Andrew,
Well done. Well written. I agree with yo...Andrew,<br /><br />Well done. Well written. I agree with you 100%.<br /><br />Anonymous.<br /><br />PS: I was a Canadian cartoon once...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04888446295721040197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-25942962003862423542010-07-27T10:37:27.456-07:002010-07-27T10:37:27.456-07:00At Hospice du Rhone this year, Charles Smith was o...At Hospice du Rhone this year, Charles Smith was one of the guest speakers. His employee kept screwing up the slideshow. Charles got very testy and frustrated. He turned to her at one point and said, "You could ruin a blowjob" out loud and into his microphone. <br /><br />That is all I never needed to hear about this person. I was not in attendance, but one of my employees was.<br /><brDaniel P.http://www.winetalk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-72162595161337090152010-07-23T11:11:22.381-07:002010-07-23T11:11:22.381-07:00All right, folks, that's it.
NO MORE anonymo...All right, folks, that's it. <br /><br />NO MORE anonymous comments ripping Charles Smith with rumors. If you have facts, let's hear them. <br /><br />Andrew Latta is right about one thing -- he works too hard to have anonymous people saying somebody else makes the wines. <br /><br />If you want to spill the beans BUT you don't want your name publicly identified, then email me W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-90655427374532056572010-07-23T09:04:45.629-07:002010-07-23T09:04:45.629-07:00regarding who has made 'Charles' wines in ...regarding who has made 'Charles' wines in the past, ask him about Walla Walla Vintners, Kiona, Hogue, Christophe, etc. etc. etc. Those of us who sell wine for a living up here tend to get lots of snippits through the grapevine that even Grand Master K would not like us to know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-13003899547923807332010-07-23T08:13:48.281-07:002010-07-23T08:13:48.281-07:00and this blog and every post on here plays directl...and this blog and every post on here plays directly to making Chuck a success....a truly well crafted marketing plan which gets everyone to chatter about him and his wines. He is a pig of the first order...part of the plan...and you are all helping him out regardless of what you (me) write.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-424943992437416512010-07-23T07:29:02.345-07:002010-07-23T07:29:02.345-07:00Yes, the comment at Hospice du Rhone is true. I f...Yes, the comment at Hospice du Rhone is true. I found out about this unfortunate news from a number of RESPECTABLE winemakers in California that attended. What a terrible way to represent Washington. He should be ashamed and apologize to Hospice du Rhone. This is an incredible event with so many outstanding individuals. Hopefully those that attended the event will look past this foolishness Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-41451856666023371522010-07-22T14:48:46.693-07:002010-07-22T14:48:46.693-07:00As far as being verbally abusive to employees Char...As far as being verbally abusive to employees Charles told a female employee at Hospice du Rhone in front of maybe 200 people that "she could F*** up a blow job"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-1077360572054306302010-07-22T14:06:19.774-07:002010-07-22T14:06:19.774-07:00Andrew: You are very loyal. I would not be happy i...Andrew: You are very loyal. I would not be happy if my employer cursed me out in front of reporters as Charles did to you. Or maybe you thought that was playful? I didn't write it down, but I recall profanity and threats of bodily harm. If that's OK with you, then you're in the right job.<br /><br />As for the 100-point score, if it's wrong, I'm reporting what Charles told me.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-43823826294018742482010-07-22T13:52:06.427-07:002010-07-22T13:52:06.427-07:00oh snap. you got told.oh snap. you got told.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-14898905353079607982010-07-22T12:02:12.665-07:002010-07-22T12:02:12.665-07:00Blake – I applaud you calling out these seemingly ...Blake – I applaud you calling out these seemingly akin “anonymous” postings. I think that’s where the applause stops for me though. It’s completely within your right to express your opinion about our wines; it’s why we invited you in the first place. In that right, I suppose our hope is that we can trust to be quoted accurately and the facts presented without embellishment. I was the only Andrew Latta - K Vintnersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-3247740204179799232010-07-22T09:35:51.758-07:002010-07-22T09:35:51.758-07:00I wrote the first Batali comment and I sell Charle...I wrote the first Batali comment and I sell Charles Smith Wines. He is an extremely generous person to his staff, can be difficult at times but in all it is so worth it. Here is a pic of Charles and his buddy and assistant winemaker Andrew "not making the wine"<br /><br /> /http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3592373&id=31397854453Janna Rinkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-61284533204115241262010-07-21T18:37:24.934-07:002010-07-21T18:37:24.934-07:00Folks, I appreciate that Charles can be difficult ...Folks, I appreciate that Charles can be difficult to take -- I experienced it myself. But I'm getting uneasy about all these anonymous slams of him.<br /><br />If you're an employee of Charles Smith, I can understand why you wouldn't want to give your name. I heard him tongue-lash one of his assistants in a way that made me cringe.<br /><br />But if you're not, why not go on the W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-76467653084468780572010-07-21T18:21:08.626-07:002010-07-21T18:21:08.626-07:00Batali can cook. In the alternative, Batali could ...Batali can cook. In the alternative, Batali could walk a novice through the cooking process. Big Hair cannot make wine without a lot of help from others with the real winemaking skills and knowledge. In the old days of the wild west, Big Hair would have been known as a "snake oil salesman".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-83315838796726407772010-07-21T17:51:34.044-07:002010-07-21T17:51:34.044-07:00Great story Blake. Wish I could have been a fly o...Great story Blake. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall.<br /><br />- Steve in oaklandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-37675400223531755542010-07-21T14:48:43.743-07:002010-07-21T14:48:43.743-07:00is mario batali on the line everynight in all of h...is mario batali on the line everynight in all of his restaurants? winemaker, yes...cellar master, no.... <br /><br />people seldom have a neutral opinion of Charles, if they did, he probably wouldn't be so successful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-40785292904874027852010-07-21T14:25:53.275-07:002010-07-21T14:25:53.275-07:00And, a king kong jerk to boot.And, a king kong jerk to boot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-69734879349192386772010-07-21T14:17:04.461-07:002010-07-21T14:17:04.461-07:00Glad people are starting to figure this one out......Glad people are starting to figure this one out...Marketing whiz- absolutely. Winemaker....????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com