James Suckling
Encyclopedia
James Suckling is an American
wine
and cigar
critic
and former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator
as well as European Editor of Cigar Aficionado
. Suckling is internationally regarded as one of the world's most influential wine critics, and one of the most experienced critics of vintage cigars.
, as an undergraduate Suckling studied political science
and journalism
at Utah State University
. After graduating from Utah State University, Suckling studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he was hired in 1978 by a local paper as a crime news gofer
. Having completed his course in journalism at the University of Wisconsin he moved to San Diego, and through the influence of his father began to be interested in the world of wine. At this time Suckling responded to an advertisement for a new contributor to Wine Spectator, then a local publication with only eight hundred subscribers. Suckling joined Wine Spectator in 1981, and after a large increase of subscribers, relocated with the magazine to San Francisco in 1982.
In 1983 Suckling began blind tasting Bordeaux
with Alexis Lichine
, and for the first time visited Europe in 1984, visiting various leading wineries in Italy. In 1985 he was assigned by Wine Spectator to establish their European bureau, living in Paris while reviewing all European wines, especially Bordeaux wine, Italian wine
and Port wine
for the publication.
Suckling moved to London in 1987 where he lived for eleven years before moving to Italy. In 1990, Suckling published his book titled Vintage Port. In 1992 Suckling suggested to Wine Spectator publisher Marvin R. Shanken to create Cigar Aficionado
, a magazine dedicated to Cuban culture, specifically Cuban cigars. To date Suckling lives in Tuscany
.
In press releases by Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado published in July 2010 it was unexpectedly announced that Suckling had retired from the publisher M. Shanken Communications magazines. Following some public criticism to the apparent dispassionate manner of the Shanken announcement, Suckling himself described the departure from the company as "totally amicable" and stated he would go on to "pursue other projects", He later published on his own Twitter
account that reports of his retirement had been "greatly exaggerated" and he was "planning an exciting future".
In September 2010, Suckling announced his charity
wine project ahead of the Papal
visit to the United Kingdom, named One Wine One World. The project, funded by art collector and philanthropist Nasser David Khalili
, is aimed at bringing Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths closer together; the proceeds will go to the Maimonides Foundation
, an interfaith charity. The wines, one red and one white, were created by blending grapes from California
, Mexico
, Hungary, Slovenia
, Roussillon
and Friuli
, and were to be the only wines served at the Birmingham farewell dinner for Pope Benedict XVI
. The wine's label is based on a multi-faith celebratory painting commissioned by Khalili from the British artist Ben Johnson
with the forthcoming Olympic Games in mind. Suckling also announced that he had been signed by IMG Artists
.
The website jamessuckling.com was launched in October 2010 and Suckling stated it would mainly focus on video content featuring "key wine figures around the world". The content had been produced over several months in collaboration with film creator James Orr
prior to the launch. In addition to Suckling's reviews, the site also features blogs by Mike D of the Beastie Boys
, and Jessica Harnois, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.
In June 2011, Suckling and IMG Artists founded Divino Tuscany, a food and wine tasting event designed to "bring together the top winemakers from Tuscany" and to "promote, share and demystify their top rated wines."
Suckling is the father of two children, Jack and Isabel Suckling
, a choirgirl signed by record label Decca
in 2010 at age 12, becoming the youngest classical recording artist to date.
and the acid
. The most revealing element is the persistence of the taste in the mouth, the aftertaste. And another thing to bear in mind is that a wine is like a person, there isn't one which is the same as the next. It should be an emotion, not something scientific. Fine wine is harmony, the balance of all the characteristics which I look for."
In reply to the Italian magazine Gentleman on "what really makes a fine wine", he replied, "wine is like music" and therefore in the same way that most musical enjoyment comes not from knowledge of music but music's appeal to the emotions, wine too should be thought of emotionally by wine drinkers, not scientifically. He added that each and every good wine should be able "to move you" in some kind of way "like with music, literature and love".
Although Suckling is a noted supporter of Bordeaux wine
, as illustrated by his blog response to a Bordeaux-critical article by Eric Asimov
, he also has affinity for Italian wine
s, having stated that he feels Italian grape varieties such as Sangiovese
, Aglianico
, and Nebbiolo are extremely unique. Conversely he has on occasion spoken dismissively of New World wine
s, applying the term "jam juice".
of Tool
, appeared in his 2010 film Blood Into Wine
, a documentary
focusing on Keenan's efforts to make wine in Arizona
. Upon tasting Keenan's wine, Suckling's reaction is enthusiastic "though not sycophantic".
Suckling also featured in Jonathan Nossiter
's 2004 film Mondovino
, by some accounts in an unflattering light, as he was shown near a Pinocchio
sign and seeming to state he has awarded a wine 90 points because it was produced by his landlord, the winemaker Salvatore Ferragamo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
and cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture. It publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertainment pieces...
as well as European Editor of Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine that is dedicated to the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its articles about different brands of cigars worldwide, and for the celebrities that have appeared on its cover. It is also noted for its opposition to the...
. Suckling is internationally regarded as one of the world's most influential wine critics, and one of the most experienced critics of vintage cigars.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, as an undergraduate Suckling studied political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. After graduating from Utah State University, Suckling studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he was hired in 1978 by a local paper as a crime news gofer
Gofer
A gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands. "Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to go for coffee, dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements. The term gofer originated in North America...
. Having completed his course in journalism at the University of Wisconsin he moved to San Diego, and through the influence of his father began to be interested in the world of wine. At this time Suckling responded to an advertisement for a new contributor to Wine Spectator, then a local publication with only eight hundred subscribers. Suckling joined Wine Spectator in 1981, and after a large increase of subscribers, relocated with the magazine to San Francisco in 1982.
In 1983 Suckling began blind tasting Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
with Alexis Lichine
Alexis Lichine
Alexis Lichine was a Russian wine writer and entrepreneur. He played a key role in promoting varietal labelling of wine, was a masterful salesman of wine, and owned Château Prieuré-Lichine and a share of Château Lascombes in the Médoc. He was married to actress Arlene Dahl from 1964 to...
, and for the first time visited Europe in 1984, visiting various leading wineries in Italy. In 1985 he was assigned by Wine Spectator to establish their European bureau, living in Paris while reviewing all European wines, especially Bordeaux wine, Italian wine
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
and Port wine
Port wine
Port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties...
for the publication.
Suckling moved to London in 1987 where he lived for eleven years before moving to Italy. In 1990, Suckling published his book titled Vintage Port. In 1992 Suckling suggested to Wine Spectator publisher Marvin R. Shanken to create Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine that is dedicated to the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its articles about different brands of cigars worldwide, and for the celebrities that have appeared on its cover. It is also noted for its opposition to the...
, a magazine dedicated to Cuban culture, specifically Cuban cigars. To date Suckling lives in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.
In press releases by Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado published in July 2010 it was unexpectedly announced that Suckling had retired from the publisher M. Shanken Communications magazines. Following some public criticism to the apparent dispassionate manner of the Shanken announcement, Suckling himself described the departure from the company as "totally amicable" and stated he would go on to "pursue other projects", He later published on his own Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that reports of his retirement had been "greatly exaggerated" and he was "planning an exciting future".
In September 2010, Suckling announced his charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
wine project ahead of the Papal
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
visit to the United Kingdom, named One Wine One World. The project, funded by art collector and philanthropist Nasser David Khalili
Nasser David Khalili
Nasser David Khalili, KCSS, KCFO is a British-Iranian property developer, art collector and philanthropist based in London. He holds [United Kingdom] citizenship....
, is aimed at bringing Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths closer together; the proceeds will go to the Maimonides Foundation
Maimonides Foundation
The Maimonides Foundation is a UK-based organization focused on ordinary Jewish-Muslim communication. It is committed to fostering relationships among believers of the Abrahamic faith. Established in 1995, the foundation has created links between the two peoples through "cultural, academic,...
, an interfaith charity. The wines, one red and one white, were created by blending grapes from California
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
, Mexico
Mexican wine
Mexican wine and wine making began with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, when they brought vines from Europe to modern day Mexico, the oldest wine-growing region in the Americas...
, Hungary, Slovenia
Slovenian wine
Slovenian wine is wine from the Central European country of Slovenia. Viticulture and winemaking has existed in this region since the time of the Celts and Illyrians tribes, long before the Romans would introduce winemaking to the lands of France, Spain and Germany...
, Roussillon
Languedoc wine
Languedoc - Roussillon wine, including the vin de pays labeled Vin de Pays d'Oc, is produced in southern France. While "Languedoc" can refer to a specific historic region of France and Northern Catalonia, usage since the 20th century has primarily referred to the northern part of the...
and Friuli
Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine
Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine is wine made in the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Once part of the Venetian Republic and with sections under the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for some time, The wines of the region have noticeable Slavic and Germanic influences...
, and were to be the only wines served at the Birmingham farewell dinner for Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. The wine's label is based on a multi-faith celebratory painting commissioned by Khalili from the British artist Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson (artist)
Ben Johnson is a British painter, best known for his series of large, detailed cityscapes.-Life and work:Ben Johnson was born in Llandudno, north Wales. He studied at the Royal College of Art in London. His first solo exhibition was held in New York in 1969...
with the forthcoming Olympic Games in mind. Suckling also announced that he had been signed by IMG Artists
IMG Artists
IMG Artists LLC is a top universal performing arts management corporation that was acquired by International Management Group in 1984. Chairman and CEO of IMG, Mark McCormack, bought out Hamlen/Landau, a small, New York based artist-management music agency, founded by Charles Hamlen and Edna...
.
The website jamessuckling.com was launched in October 2010 and Suckling stated it would mainly focus on video content featuring "key wine figures around the world". The content had been produced over several months in collaboration with film creator James Orr
James Orr (filmmaker)
James Orr is an Canadian writer, director and producer of motion pictures. Orr's screenplay credits include Three Men and a Baby, Tough Guys and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, whilst his director credits include Mr...
prior to the launch. In addition to Suckling's reviews, the site also features blogs by Mike D of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
, and Jessica Harnois, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.
In June 2011, Suckling and IMG Artists founded Divino Tuscany, a food and wine tasting event designed to "bring together the top winemakers from Tuscany" and to "promote, share and demystify their top rated wines."
Suckling is the father of two children, Jack and Isabel Suckling
Isabel Suckling
Isabel Suckling is a British choirgirl who upon signing a record deal with Decca Records became the youngest classical recording artist signed by Decca to date, and the first choirgirl to sign a record contract with a major music label. Suckling sings in the choir at York Minster and was...
, a choirgirl signed by record label Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 2010 at age 12, becoming the youngest classical recording artist to date.
Tasting style
During his time with Wine Spectator Suckling tasted an average of 4000 wines annually, half of which were Italian wines. He tasted some of them on site at the relevant wineries and others he tasted blind in his Italy office. Responding to Corriere della Sera on how he "understood, judged, and recognised a fine wine", Suckling replied, "Usually you start from the nose, from the scents of the wine. But for me, this aspect is less important. I put more emphasis on what I taste in the mouth; I find the concentration of fruit, of the tannins, the alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and the acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
. The most revealing element is the persistence of the taste in the mouth, the aftertaste. And another thing to bear in mind is that a wine is like a person, there isn't one which is the same as the next. It should be an emotion, not something scientific. Fine wine is harmony, the balance of all the characteristics which I look for."
In reply to the Italian magazine Gentleman on "what really makes a fine wine", he replied, "wine is like music" and therefore in the same way that most musical enjoyment comes not from knowledge of music but music's appeal to the emotions, wine too should be thought of emotionally by wine drinkers, not scientifically. He added that each and every good wine should be able "to move you" in some kind of way "like with music, literature and love".
Although Suckling is a noted supporter of Bordeaux wine
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
, as illustrated by his blog response to a Bordeaux-critical article by Eric Asimov
Eric Asimov
Eric Asimov is an American wine critic for The New York Times, with articles subsequently published in the International Herald Tribune.-Biography:...
, he also has affinity for Italian wine
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
s, having stated that he feels Italian grape varieties such as Sangiovese
Sangiovese
Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...
, Aglianico
Aglianico
Aglianico is a black grape grown in the Basilicata and Campania regions of Italy. The vine originated in Greece and was brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin for "Greek vine"...
, and Nebbiolo are extremely unique. Conversely he has on occasion spoken dismissively of New World wine
New World wine
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.-Early wines in the Americas:...
s, applying the term "jam juice".
Film appearances
Suckling, a friend of Maynard James KeenanMaynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor. Originally from Ohio, Keenan spent his high school and college years in Michigan. After serving in the Army in the early 1980s, he attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids...
of Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, appeared in his 2010 film Blood Into Wine
Blood into Wine
Blood into Wine is a documentary about the Northern Arizona wine industry focusing on Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski and their Caduceus brand wine. It was released in February 2010 theatrically and on DVD and Blu-ray in September 2010....
, a documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
focusing on Keenan's efforts to make wine in Arizona
Arizona wine
Arizona wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Arizona.Viticulture in Arizona has a history that begins in the 16th century when missionary Spanish Jesuit priests began to plant grapevines and make wine for use in Christian religious ceremonies...
. Upon tasting Keenan's wine, Suckling's reaction is enthusiastic "though not sycophantic".
Suckling also featured in Jonathan Nossiter
Jonathan Nossiter
Jonathan Nossiter is an American filmmaker. Son of Washington Post and New York Times foreign correspondent Bernard Nossiter, he was born in the United States in 1961. He was raised in France, England, Italy, Greece and India...
's 2004 film Mondovino
Mondovino
Mondovino is a 2004 documentary film on the impact of globalization on the world's different wine regions written and directed by American film maker Jonathan Nossiter...
, by some accounts in an unflattering light, as he was shown near a Pinocchio
Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
sign and seeming to state he has awarded a wine 90 points because it was produced by his landlord, the winemaker Salvatore Ferragamo.