Went to dinner at a friends house over the weekend, great food, company and wine. On Sunday I was thinking how much I enjoyed just drinking the wines without really analysing them, just really quaffed away enjoying their superbness.
I was wondering whether we as wine buffs used to constantly analysing what's in the glass sometimes fail to fully enjoy what we drink because we are over analytical?
The wines amongst six of us were
1998 Yarra Burn Pinot that I missed by getting there 15 mins late
1990 St.George Cabernet
1991 Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet
1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet
1993 Wynns Michael Shiraz
1994 Kay Bros Block 6 Shiraz
1994 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1998 Dutschke St.Jakobi Shiraz
Does wine analysis spoil social imbibing?
Does wine analysis spoil social imbibing?
Cheers - Steve
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
Re: Does wine analysis spoil social imbibing?
707 wrote:I was wondering whether we as wine buffs used to constantly analysing what's in the glass sometimes fail to fully enjoy what we drink because we are over analytical?
1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet
Steve,
In my opinion, yes. Good atmosphere, good food and good company and relaxation brings out the best in wine. I remember an incident last year when I was tasting 99 Grange. I was trying so hard to pick at it at pull it apart, that nearly all of it passed my lips before I fully appreciated it. When I sat back, relaxed, and decided to enjoy it, it was beautiful.
As an aside, how is the Wynns Centenary holding up? I have only one bottle, well cellared (at least for half its life), and I've been thinking of opening it for a while. I like a bit of primary fruit left. Should I drink soon?
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KMP
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No, no you must analyze, scrutinize, evaluate, dissect, inspect and pore over at all times; else the very foundations of civilization, culture and empire will fail. How else are we to know if a Parker 99 is really the equivalent of an Oliver 89, a Mattinson “bloody goodÂâ€Â, or a Halliday 78, or something that TORB wonÂ’t even consider putting in his mouth?
While your doing that I'll just sit back, put my feet up and enjoy a glass of Seppelts DP63!
“Wine is the pleasantest subject in the world to discuss. All its associations are with occasions when people are at their best; with relaxation, contentment, leisurely meals and the free flow of ideas.Ââ€Â
Ââ€â€HUGH JOHNSON
Mike
While your doing that I'll just sit back, put my feet up and enjoy a glass of Seppelts DP63!
“Wine is the pleasantest subject in the world to discuss. All its associations are with occasions when people are at their best; with relaxation, contentment, leisurely meals and the free flow of ideas.Ââ€Â
Ââ€â€HUGH JOHNSON
Mike
Steve,
You make a very good point. However it's possible to have a combination of the two analysis and enjoyment. What I am trying to do now on many occasions when friends get together is to spend a new minutes on analysis as each wine is poured and then just kick back and enjoy each wine.
Most of the dinners I go to now I dont even take a pen and paper.
You make a very good point. However it's possible to have a combination of the two analysis and enjoyment. What I am trying to do now on many occasions when friends get together is to spend a new minutes on analysis as each wine is poured and then just kick back and enjoy each wine.
Most of the dinners I go to now I dont even take a pen and paper.
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KMP
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- Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 4:02 am
- Location: Expat, now in San Diego, California
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In all seriousness. 
I'm always assessing a wine when I'm drinking but I only take notes if I want a record of my impressions, and if I'm in good company and involved in conversation I find it near impossible to take good notes.
I'm a firm believer in the idea that good company and good food can dramatically influence how we perceive wine. Some of the best wines I've had would probably never do all that well in a blind tasting but in mixed company under a moonlite sky with BBQ'ed salmon we thought they were excellent.
Mike
I'm always assessing a wine when I'm drinking but I only take notes if I want a record of my impressions, and if I'm in good company and involved in conversation I find it near impossible to take good notes.
I'm a firm believer in the idea that good company and good food can dramatically influence how we perceive wine. Some of the best wines I've had would probably never do all that well in a blind tasting but in mixed company under a moonlite sky with BBQ'ed salmon we thought they were excellent.
Mike
M, The Wynns Centenary is humming, as it has been for the last few years. I would however be thinking about drinking up, as I am with mine as I feel it's been plateau'ing the last couple of years.
As always cellaring conditions and bottle variation will dictate how great a bottle will be, I've found variations of excellence with the three six packs I bought at release. I'm into the last pack now.
As always cellaring conditions and bottle variation will dictate how great a bottle will be, I've found variations of excellence with the three six packs I bought at release. I'm into the last pack now.
Cheers - Steve
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
I also agree with the general opinion.
Undoubtedly, the best wines I have had have been in a relaxed atmosphere, usually accompanied by great food and great people. Usually I have not intended to analyse the wine that night. But I find in situations like this, one is much more perceptive of detail by default anyway and all the aromas and flavours come to the fore anyway.
I also scrutinse wines most heavily on my own or with special oragnised tastings.
I often get bagged by my non-wine scrutininsing friends for analysing wine so much. They say 'just sit back and enjoy it', and I can fully see where they are coming from, but it's good to do both from time to time.
Cheers,
Stuart
Undoubtedly, the best wines I have had have been in a relaxed atmosphere, usually accompanied by great food and great people. Usually I have not intended to analyse the wine that night. But I find in situations like this, one is much more perceptive of detail by default anyway and all the aromas and flavours come to the fore anyway.
I also scrutinse wines most heavily on my own or with special oragnised tastings.
I often get bagged by my non-wine scrutininsing friends for analysing wine so much. They say 'just sit back and enjoy it', and I can fully see where they are coming from, but it's good to do both from time to time.
Cheers,
Stuart
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Serge Birbrair
Re: Craig(NZ)
Craig(NZ) wrote:Anyone ask for a spitoon at my parties and they never get another invite.
I totally agree, you can get too analytical
Analyse when you got to buy the stuff. forget the analysis when you drink it.
Bravo! If I used this approach in my marriages....I'd have fewer divorces