This week (or I should say last week), while one poor wine writer seems to have had his word count slashed to less than 400, another squanders a terrific story idea (narrative as a fundamental aspect of the best wines) by recounting a string of fatuous vineyard tales. Elsewhere, Eric Asimov considers the Sideways effect on Merlots and finds hope. There are also some more gift-giving stories for last-minute gift-buyers. (Not that it's really the last minute yet!)