Different Tongues - Power of Suggestion

[Thomas]

Randy gives some good advice and information, but I dispute a little of it, which is what keeps wine such a confusing matter.

For instance, unless you are familiar with a particular malt ball candy, you might not taste the malt in some dry Chardonnays the way I do. Everyone I tell thinks I am nuts.

And of course, if you have never tasted certain berries you might not find Zinfandel berry-like.

So taste is a matter of experience and memory, yet there are definite characteristics that each grape variety possesses, and the trickn is to discover and remember them.

Incidentally, Randy, I have tasted scores of California Chardonnay that are definitely sweet -- usually the lower priced ones. And, as far as I am concerned, the best place in the United States for Riesling is New York State's Finger Lakes, but most people wouldn't know that because they don't explore New York State much, and there are scores of dry Rieslings in New York. Quite often, the so-called dry German Rieslings fail in the "balance" category.