On Thu, 3 Jan 2008 19:07:28 -0800 (PST), Dee Dee
> wrote:

>I went into Whole Foods to get a one-ounce taste of a Y'quem at $20 an
>ounce. (shot)
>
>They didn't have it, so I tasted a Barolo 2000 Monprivato at $5 per
>shot.
>
>Then I tasted a Chateau Pavie 1982 Valette St. Emilion 1st Grand Cru
>at $10 per shot.
>
>I suppose to really taste, I would've had to let it decant, do a
>little rolling it around in the glass, sniff like a fool, gargle it,
>let it roll around on the front, middle and rear part of my tongue,
>and jump up-and-down like Gordon Ramsay, and of course, drink more
>than an ounce.
>
>For a novice, (you know who you are who call me a drinker of Charles
>Shaw), the only remarkable note I can make is that I liked the color
>of each wine. (Not purple.)
>
>I could not taste nor smell any of the usual buzz words descriptions:
>tobacco, cassis, etc.
>
>Guess I'll have to keep trying those $10-$40 bottles of wine. Surely
>someone will tell me I couldn't had a better taste test for $16 with
>something different. But I enjoyed it.
>
>Tasted another one at $1 a shot --
>Chateau Haut-Piquot 2005 Lussac St Emilion.
>
>Dee Dee

That sounds disappointing. Doesn't seem that you got much bang for a
lot of bucks.

I think I'd expect a lot more from the experience and I would expect
Whole Foods, if they were expecting that such tasting opportunities
would result in sales of wine, would have offered a bit of assistance.
You describe the tasting as "shot"-size, but hopefully it wasn't
offered in a shot glass or a paper cup. A tasting glass doesn't have
to be huge, but it should be a proper tulip/balloon shape and stemmed
(sorry Riedel "O" lovers).

No need for the Gordon Ramsay act, but a moment or two of swirling
would help. The Barolo was quite young, but even a 25 year old Bdx
could benefit from some aeration. You did note color,but should also
have noted viscosity or "legs"--the tendrils that climb up the side of
the glass.

Then a bit of time to sniff. No rush here, you paid for the ride so
enjoy the nuances without being in a hurry. Anything come at you?
Barolo's typically give me some "barn" or leather or briar or tar
notes. Bdx might offer some pencil lead, cedar, cigar box, dark
berries or similar. Didn't get it at first? Swirl and try again. Take
your time.

Sip. Make the shot last. Not all in one fell swoop. On the tongue,
hold it, feel it, think about it....getting anything? Swallow (slowly
if that's possible) and think about what's still going on in your
mouth. Anything? Getting some finish or is it just gone? Dust, chalk,
dryness, residual flavor? Anything?

Little bigger mouthful now, maybe all the remainder of the shot. Hold
in your mouth, swirl a bit, think about it. Inhale a bit of air over
what's in your mouth. Getting anything? Slosh around. Take a second or
two, swallow. Finish any better?

Ask the merchant who is pouring what you should have seen, smelled,
tasted, felt. If he doesn't have anything to offer, walk away. If he
does have some description, compare it to your own experience. How
does it match up? Are you noting the same things but maybe using
different descriptors? (One man's blueberry is another man's cassis.)

Give it time and keep exploring. Sometimes you go through a lot of
ducks before you find a swan.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com