Bill Moats wrote:

> "spud" wrote.....
>
> .....I freely admit I'm not an experienced or qualified taster, but the
>> home made wines seem to be what I would describe as truer to the
>> grape......

This may be because many home made wines are not oaked or aged in new oak
barrels. One way - other than adding sugar - to cover up defects in a wine
is to over oak it.