I was given these two bottles of wine sometime approximately a month-and-a-half ago, and tonight I finally opened one of them. It was an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon affectionately referred as "Two-buck Chuck," bottled for Trader Joe's. It is very--grapey--and I don't know whether that's supposed to be good or bad, but at least I can tell what it is I am supposedly drinking for a change.
So tell me, what is good wine supposed to taste like? The experts are of no use in this area, because they already know what they are looking for in a good wine. They know good taste from bad, a familiarity with which I am not currently endowed.
What does dryness mean? What does "sweet" mean when it comes to wines? It apparently doesn't mean the same thing it does when referring to un-fermented grapes, or orange juice, my typical drinks of choice. It isn't as though I were actually trying to impress anyone with my taste in alcoholic beverages, is it? Because if that were not the case it would only matter what I liked, and not what was considered "good" by anybody else.
I gladly admit a weakness for sparkling beverages in most cases.
I mock myself and try to make a joke at the same time. I try this often, and it is difficult to tell, when writing, whether or not the joke succeeds.
(My policy is to never drink any alcohol until after Parker has gone to bed for the night. I don't want to take a chance on his needing to nurse too soon after alcohol has been consumed. This has knocked me out of enjoying the free wine at Northport's Art Night on more than one occasion.)
7 comments:
I have never tasted wine myself, but I have talked to a few other people about it. As I understand, good wine is supposed to have multiple layers of flavor. At first you taste x, then you taste y, then you taste z, and so on. The better the wine, the more the flavors. Unfortunately, to the non-expert wine tasters, so-called "good wine" doesn't always taste good. For example, one of the flavors that so-called "good wine" might have is "earthy" or "wood." What they mean is that it tastes like dirt and tree bark. Why would I want to drink something that tastes like that?
I have never liked any wine that I've tasted. I don't like the taste or the smell. If I'm going to spend the money, I'd rather have an Amaretto Sour. Otherwise, just give me a soft drink or water. I do know that some "top ten" tasters gave a new inexpensive wine the "best tasting wine" award. So, price doesn't mean it tastes good. I'm with Jim, who wants to drink something that tastes like dirt???
I just want to know how Jim, Julie, and all of these wine experts know what dirt tastes like.
I've gotten a mouthful of sand or dust before, but I certainly wouldn't generalize those experiences to fine potting soil or rich Alabama red clay.
Given the steep pricing curve on wine I'm pretty happy being ignorant of the subtleties dirt and fine wine for the time being.
It doesn't matter what the wine taste like, what matters is if you like it. I've had $2 chuck, I've also had some expensive ones, and I've enjoyed both (though I can appreciate the more expensive ones more). When I spend time making my wife a nice dinner on Friday, I like to have a better wine. When I'm traveling and sitting in a hotel room at night, I enjoy something basic. Depending on what country I'm in at the time, sometimes I go for the beer!
Daniel, I have eaten and made others eat dirt before. I'm surprised that you escaped your elementary and middle school years without having experienced it yourself.
I have tasted wine, but not dirt, and I like it that way. I like it sweet and fruity, like German Reislings.
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