Instead of spanking wine lists, Alice got spanked.

When trying to post to the ebob site today I received an automatic email alerting me that my account had been suspended. I thought this was because I had been trapped into saying that I didn't like California wine but, no. It was bad behavior.

<< Quite frankly, it is always a delicate situation when competing writers come on the board. When they do so and start taking shots at people who are part of our team, it is even worse. And when they do so without even bothering to tell anyone who they are so that their own biases and work can be reviewed, it is worse yet.

We therefore feel there is no good end to this, and it is best that you not participate here.

Very truly yours,
Mark Squires>>>>

So I got the boot.

Not sure what to make of Mr. Squires allegations about not fessing up about who I am. I am the only wine writer who is a 'Feiring 'so I wasn't exactly anonymous. Everyone on board seemed to know who I was. Hard not to feel the irony, just last fall, Robert P. told me he was proud of the fact that he has opposing views on his website.

So what was the fuss?

I was looking for ways to avoid working on my novel so, I joined in on the thread on Lettie Teague's Barolo piece in this month's Food & Wine. (you can try the erobertparker.com site --go to the Squires board. Search for Teague and you'll find the thread if you're interested.)

Lettie's piece was certainly engaging. There was some terrific information and she did a wonderful job of presenting a difficult area to her audience. I especially loved that she corrected her friends from thinking a pale color was a bad thing. (thank you, Lettie)!

But as I seem to be one of the champions of traditional/authentic wines,
I did have a problem with Lettie helping along the belief that Vietti is a traditionalist and some other issues along that line. Of course, I hate it, hate it, hate it, when I say something in print that might not be very accurate, and you know, someone always points it out. It's a writer's nightmare, yet it happens. It will happen to me when the book comes out and I'll reach for the ambien to try to get past the sleepless nights when I can't stop berating myself for making a mistake!!! But, I have no idea what Squires meant by opposing views. I don't know if Lettie and I have opposing views. This whole thing is very odd.

Might this be more to the point?

Minutes before I got shot down, a friend of mine watching the thread--wrote to say this:

< and do be aware that you have now truly touched the third rail--suggesting
that California did better in the past. Strap on the body armor, my dear.
>>>

And then.....the door came down.

Not a minute too soon....back to the novel.