The Colour Red

[hotwine]

Wlcome to the board, Sean.
You've asked some huge questions that have no simple answers. Suggest you begin a reading program. You can begin by reading all postings under this heading "For the Novice" for the last year, then expand into the other topics on this board; then pick up a couple of books that you will notice being discussed ("Wine for Dummies" being a good one for starters). Then read, study, buy wine, drink wine, make notes, read some more, and you will soon begin to develop your own answers to your questions.