the emperor's first question...

[cpurvis]

I searched the site w/ several keywords & failed to find an answer to this:

Have any of you found (or do you practice) specific useful methods of further educating yourselves re: the various tastes/smells in wines other than the very necessary "taste, notate, taste" approach (as rec. by WW)?

[mrdutton]

I'd love to take a course or two. Unfortunately, none such educational items like that seem to be available around here.

So I just rely on word of mouth, my wine store guy, and WW's well proven methodology of TASTE, NOTATE AND TASTE A WHOLE BUNCH MORE.

I also rely on the suggestions and opinions of the other fine folk here on the Wine Board.

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 01-13-2001).]

[winoweenie]

CP. Jes` so you don` think I`m some kind of albatross: they` don` be` no short-cut to learning about wine. I`ll tell you frankly, most of the so-called " Experts" when blind-folded have no flickin` idear` `bout whas they be tastin. I f you don`t like my irreverent style of wine reporting, I`m sorry, but wine `haint no mystical entity. It`s a potion that for some reason God decided he`d give to us idiots. Don`t take it as the annoited, rather as the juice that we can choose over H2O. We may not deserve it but we gots it. VIVA LA JUICE! WW

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 01-13-2001).]

[cpurvis]

WW, no such albatrossical thoughts crossin' this grey matter. And, not lookin' fer short-cuts, just fer education.

*"the juice that we can choose over H2O"*...
and 99% of what passes fer beer. To paraphrase Roberto, "Je Chimay G.R., donc je suis."

AND, IMHO this Board wouldn't be worth the trouble w/out a goodly, reg'lar dose of irreverance. I'm committed to providin' my share [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

"VIVA LA JUICE!" (& LA WEENIE) cp

[Bucko]

Le Nez Du Vin, along with its supplemental defect kit is a very good aid, expensive, but good.

If you can make it to UC Davis, they have a two-day sensory evaluation course that is very good, then followed up by a one-day advanced course of same.

Bucko

[Thomas]

I completely agree with the weenie, yet I also think a short course is a good idea.

A lot of us do not think about smell and taste so we have a hard time identifying things that go p.u. in our noses, and yuch on our mouths. Tasting is like breathing: we all do it naturally, but most of us do it inefficiently.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 01-14-2001).]

[mrdutton]

In support of WW I present this little anecdote:

At the recent awards for the World's Best Sommelier, the winner and the close runner's-up were tasked with a blind tasting.

If I recall correctly, they were given five wines to taste and classify. The winner could only identify one or two of them. The runner's-up did not perform near as well as the winner during this part of the testing.

[thewoodman]

I agree with Bucko re: the UC Davis course. Go to www.universityextension.ucdavis.edu to find out more. John Beuchenstein, the winemaker for Fife teaches it and it is packed with knowledge and tasting exercises.

Also, if you look at the UCD Vit & Enol dept. website they have Ann Noble's Aroma Wheel (and you can order a nice laminated copy), but I think they also have an article on how to mix aroma standards with various household or grocery store items. I haven't done this exercise, but it seems like fun, especially to do with a group.

[chittychattykathy]

I have done some small group, "aroma/flavor" tastings and can honestly say that you really learn a lot, and it is fairly simple to set up. So far have done: vegetables, fruits & spices and one with various, (cow, lamb, French, American, Italian) leathers, bacon, some locally collected road tar, and yummy #2 lead pencil. (I also have slate, chalk, stones, etc... from several vineyards that I have visited, which I sometimes force people to whiff as well.)

[winoweenie]

Gracious CCK! Do you require chains and leather belts for this exercise? WW

[cpurvis]

Ah yes...a thread can only go so long before it gets hit with the familiar WW left turn away from all relevance & reason. WW, you NEED a traffic director [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks all for the hints. Note to file: sharpen one pencil over next glass of pinot...

cp

[chittychattykathy]

WW, I don't remember you being here, yet you know...

[winoweenie]

Jes` a lucky guess CCK. WW

[Drew]

Don't believe him, CCK, remember the guy in the back that looked and talked like Walter Brennan with drool on his lip..... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew

[Bucko]

Walter Brennan had more teeth..... (cough)

Bucko

[Thomas]

Bucko, I nearly dropped my lowers laughing at that one. ...

[winoweenie]

OOOH YYYEEEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!! Wise Guys. I have more LIMPS> WW