Jay Miller leaves The Wine Advocate

Pancho Campo: "Where's my meal ticket gone...?"

Dr Vino reports here that Jay Miller has left The Wine Advocate, saying that the following announcement has appeared on Robert Parker's website:

Parker says: “After several months of consideration, Big Jay, who has done such a thorough and professional job of bringing emerging wine regions such as Spain, South America, and the Pacific Northwest much needed coverage and attention, has decided to return to wine consulting, lecturing and wine retail.”

Miller says: "Some may believe my stepping down is in response to my critics. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have felt constrained in responding while still on The Wine Advocate staff. While the office has defended my actions, justifiably, now it is time for me to speak for myself… I leave The Wine Advocate with a clear conscience. I have never accepted (or requested) fees for visiting wine regions or wineries."


I would like to stress once again that I did not accuse Jay Miller of taking money for visits or tasting wines for The Wine Advocate. Indeed the only concrete suggestion that this might be the case came from Pancho Campo himself in the email sent from Tuscany on 3rd June 2011 and Campo is hardly a reliable witness:

'Private visits off the set agenda, as this would be, rarely take place, and not for a price below 40,000 euros. The fact that Jay has agreed to stay 2 days more, and for half the usual price, is a miracle and an opportunity that Madrid will find it difficult to have again.'

However, the series of master classes that Campo organised to coincide with visits that Miller made to a number of wine regions as official reviewer of The Wine Advocate was, at best, uncomfortably cosy. Furthermore, Miller appears to have failed to question closely enough the way Campo was organising his agenda of visits to Spanish regions.

José Peñín's sharp criticism of Campo over the weekend further highlighted how the link between Campo and Miller was untenable. While it is almost certain that Miller had anyway intended to retire before much longer, both he and Parker would surely have preferred that he left in more glorious circumstances.

Neal Martin will take over reviewing the wines of Spain, Argentina, and Chile for the publication. David Schildknecht will review the wines of Oregon and Washington.

I'm certain that Neal Martin will not be using the services of Pancho Campo MW and will do a fine job, although his portfolio is now huge, as is David Schildknecht's. My guess is that this may well be a temporary measure and that, in time, a new writer will be recruited to Team Parker. I suspect, however, that Parker's description of Spain as an 'emerging wine region' will not make Martin's task easier. And, as El Mundo points out, Martin is on record as having said that Spain and its wines was not exactly his favourite subject.

Neal Martin has commented on erobert:

'I have to be brief because a man has a job to do. Just to say, I am very excited to be covering these regions: Spain, Argentina & Chile and the extra pages have already been stapled into my passport. I will be taking a regional approach to Spain, as the country is way too big and diverse to treat as a single entity. I'll also be incorporating a bit of Wine-Journal into TWA reports, to make them entertaining as well as informative, as well as using photographs and videos to bring the country, its wines and its people to life.' (added 7.12.11)

Doubtless Pancho Campo will have to reconsider his concept of organising speaking or marketing events, for a 'going rate', that uncomfortably coincide with official tasting visits. Both Murcia (€29,000) and Valencia (€35,000) will be wondering how they can amortise or recover the substantial sums they paid to Campo for bringing Miller to them.

Throughout this story of the way Campo ruthlessly manipulated his position as Miller's Spanish gatekeeper I have worked very closely with Harold Heckle, long established wine writer based in Madrid. It was he who obtained a copy of the damning email from Campo to DO Vinos de Madrid. Harold is ceratinly the co-author of this story. My thanks also to our sources, who passed on crucial copies of emails. Both Murcia and Madrid launched desperate searches to find the authors of these leaks. Was last week's last minute offer to the DO Vinos de Madrid that Miller would taste their wines for nothing part of a deal that Campo concocted with the DO – 'look for the leaker and I'll deliver Miller'?      


I'm also very grateful for all the support I have received, especially after the possibility of legal action was raised.

eh! Toro?

See also post on Vinography here.

Please see statement from David Schildknecht here.