The Wine Test

[hollywood]

I'm trying to link Trillin's article in The New Yorker in which he muses over the relative inability of tasters to distinguish red wines from whites in taste tests. What do you think?

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?020819fa_fact

[butch]

I think that if you can't distinguish red from white in a blind tasting you should never spend more than $10 a bottle for any wine. (and probably should buy wine by the box)

[hollywood]

I think that if you can't distinguish red from white in a blind tasting you should never spend more than $10 a bottle for any wine. (and probably should buy wine by the box)

You might want to read the article. Apparently, you can create a test that will fool a lot of folks.

[Fat Guy]

The best sommelier I know admits he can be fooled, easily.

[Wilfrid]

Didn't any of you, as kids, try blind taste tests with fruit juices and water. You lose the plot almost instantly. But I'm not sure that says anything about wine tasters (not that I've read the article yet either).

[Ron Johnson]

This has been argued before, quite heatedly, on other forums. The bottom line is that this is not as sensational as it seems. Many white and red wines have similar flavor profiles that can fool a taster under the right circumstances. It doesn't mean you shouldn't buy high quality wines, or that individuals cannot appreciate the distinctions between high and low quality wines. In fact, I would wager it is more likely that I would confuse a red with a white wine than I would a great with a terrible wine of the same varietal.

As an aside making absurd boasts about your ability to blind taste and identify certain alcoholic beverages is a good way to get a free drink. Once, when I was penniless waiter, I bet the bartender of a swank restaurant five bucks that I could identify blind each of his premium vodkas tasted side by side. He lined up on the bar a shot of Stoli, Ketel One, Absolut, Sky, and one or two others. I slowly sipped each one down and then boldly stated which was which. The bartender pumped his fist and declared loudly that I got them all wrong. I dropped a five on the bar, congratulated him, and headed out for the night with the best five dollar buzz of my young life.

[butch]

I feel somewhat vindicated after reading Thomas Matthews' article on page 46 of the November Wine Spectator. Apparently there are those that can tell the difference.

[hollywood]

I feel somewhat vindicated after reading Thomas Matthews' article on page 46 of the November Wine Spectator. Apparently there are those that can tell the difference.

Is it tasting or is it ESP?

[Charles Smith]

This has been argued before, quite heatedly, on other forums.  The bottom line is that this is not as sensational as it seems.  Many white and red wines have similar flavor profiles that can fool a taster under the right circumstances.  It doesn't mean you shouldn't buy high quality wines, or that individuals cannot appreciate the distinctions between high and low quality wines.  In fact, I would wager it is more likely that I would confuse a red with a white wine than I would a great with a terrible wine of the same varietal.

As an aside making absurd boasts about your ability to blind taste and identify certain alcoholic beverages is a good way to get a free drink.  Once, when I was penniless waiter, I bet the bartender of a swank restaurant five bucks that I could identify blind each of his premium vodkas tasted side by side.  He lined up on the bar a shot of Stoli, Ketel One, Absolut, Sky, and one or two others.  I slowly sipped each one down and then boldly stated which was which.  The bartender pumped his fist and declared loudly that I got them all wrong.  I dropped a five on the bar, congratulated him, and headed out for the night with the best five dollar buzz of my young life.

Ron-

That's a great story- LOL!!!

[Ron Johnson]

Is it tasting or is it ESP?

Which one does Parker use?