Asda press tasting, and Philippa Carr begins blogging
Went to Asda's press tasting today. Lots of wine, almost all affordable, and many really good. It's easy as a wine journalist to forget what it's like to stand in front of the aisles with £5 0r £6 to spend on wine, trying to find something nice. Asda's range has its fair share of spoofy branded wines, but it also has some delicious, inexpensive wines, too. They've done particularly well with the buying for their extra special range. My favourites? Any of the following:Vinalba Patagonian Syrah Malbec 2006 (£7.48)
Extra Special Argentinian Malbec 2008 (£5.98)
Mayu Syrah Reserva 2006, Elqui (£8.82)
Extra Special Argentinian Malbec 2008 (£5.98)
Mayu Syrah Reserva 2006, Elqui (£8.82)
Extra Special Primitivo di Puglia (£5.88)
Extra Special Shiraz 2008 VdP d'Oc (£6.98)
Extra Special Shiraz 2008 VdP d'Oc (£6.98)
Extra Special NZ Sauvignon 2009 (£7.98)
Extra Special Fiano 2008 Sicily (£5.98)
Extra Special Gavi 2008 (£6.97)
Asda Verdicchio Classico 2008 (£4.10)
What's news? Well, Philippa Carr MW, who heads up the wine department, has begun to blog (see screengrab above). She's one of the team on 'aisle spy', the new Asda blog that takes customers behind the scenes. Issued with a Flip video recorder, she is licensed to blog, and her section is here. Initial signs are promising - and she was busy collecting new material today.
posted by Jamie @ 9:49 PM
14 comments
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14 Comments:
Oh no Jamie, sucking up the PR gumf again. What is the point of this post apart from helping to sell Asda products? You usually have interesting things to write...
Careful, Anon, anything negative about this place and you get Jamie's fan club on your back.
God forbid that anyone can ever criticise anything on here...
Anon 1, I was writing about wine, which is more-or-less the point of this blog. I tried some wines, I liked some of them, and I told the world here. Did I somehow break rank by not saying that Asda is bad and evil?
I really wish you both would use your real names, but I'n not going to insist on it.
I wonder how extra special a NZ Sauvignon can be that has already reached the supermarket shelf at the beginning of October. Sounds like it has been pressed, bottled and shipped.
I also don't like this "extra special" flummery. Basically, it is acknowledging that Asda customers will need a very good reason to spend more than 3.99 on a bottle of wine, so, if you call it "extra special", it makes it seem as if you're getting a de luxe product at a bargain.
Well explained, Jamie! I've made a note & shall try out a few. If I like them I'll buy more; if I don't, I won't.That's what I like a bout ur blog - it treats me as an adult and lets me make up my own mind.
Unlike the Anons, who believe that only they can see through the ways of the world.Praps they should be called Trolls tho', for trolling is what they do.
There again they may be sockpuppets - praps professionally jealous about your sustained & growing success and following ;D
Message to the Anons who only bitch and moan with sarcastic criticisms - my point is that that's all you ever do - you NEVER make any positive or even "neutral" comments - why is that??????
I don't troll.
If I disagree with something Jamie's written, I say so.
I'm not part of his PR machine which leaps to his defence every five minutes.
I'm a mate of Jamie's, not a wine critic/expert or anything close. I am also certainly not part of any PR machine and, as Jamie would tell you, will happily tell him he's talking rubbish if I think he is! BUT I simply do not get why people post negative/critical remarks on this or any other blog without naming themselves. Be as harsh, unpleasant and negative as you like but name yourselves you pathetic lightweights! Stop hiding, show your faces or shut up!
Karl
well said Karl!!!! these people (or is it one person?) clearly have a grudge against Jamie - it is not as one has claimed that they disagree - it is that they criticise with nasty sarcasm all the time - pathetic.
Surely if people disagree with articles written on here, it's OK to say so?
Of course it's OK to disagree, Dave. That's not the issue.
Disagree as much as you want. I really welcome comments, even if they show that I'm wrong or misguided. Which I'm sure I am, more often than I'd like to admit!
The question is: why not put your name to your comment? It's the anonymous comments that are being complained about.
What difference does it make if I leave my name or not?
There's no way of checking if names used on here are genuine anyway, so it renders the whole thing meaningless.
"Anon1" here, saw the number of comments and thought I should revisit. Allow me to apologise for upsetting you Jamie. On re-reading, mine was a brutally brief comment. Like many I suspect, I read many blog posts and simply don't have time (nor is it really the forum for) lengthy comment. I concede I was too brief here and, judging by the reactions, it prevented the point from being taken on board.
Re-read the post and you will see that I end by saying "You usually have intersting things to write" and that is exactly why I follow your blog, Jamie. I'm simply disappointed in you (as with this and the Tesco and Majestic posts) sucking up the PR blurb without giving a balanced view. Yes the supermarkets have some half-decent wines, now which ones should we avoid? What about the fake discounting, the loss-leaders etc etc. It must be difficult to blog every day, esp after a day's tasting, but 3 such posts in short succession required comment.
I can usually find from you a different angle on things - thoughtful as well as informed - but these posts are not so good and so I felt I should tell you so. I recommend to you the book "Flat Earth News" by Nick Davies. Beware the PR machines!
On a lighter note: it's great to find such loyalty amongst your friends but please tell Karl that if he tells people to "show their faces or shut up" then perhaps he should put his photo or at least his surname on his Google account? If I have any comment to make in future that could conceivably be construed negatively, then I'll be sure to stay Anon. You might see Anon2's point?
Keep up the good work Jamie. Although I'm sure it's not always easy being in the public eye, you're doing good things. And sometimes the negative posts have merit too.
Well said, my fellow "Anon".
So hypocritical to demand that people name themselves, when they only give a first name and no photo themselves.
Shows them up for the ignoramuses that they are.
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