[Mamzelle]

Years ago I tried to make something of a study of wine, mostly because I love to cook and have wine as an accompanyment. I even joined a club so that I could taste the really "good" ones without spending too much money.

The present fashion of merlots is almost funny--I used to try them and the general consensus of my "instructors" was that merlots were so bland and dreary that they were fit only to cut the harsher wines in a blend.

Never did develop a palate--and my preferred wines are some local "folk" wines that are invariably new, bright, and never spent much, if any, time in wood. If I serve wine with a meal, I try to have someone who likes it pick it out.

But I do like a nice old scotch/irish/bourbon. What tastes like mildewed wood in a cabernet (the varietal I've learned to hate), seems to taste very nice in a scotch. Maybe the increased alcohol % kills off some of the mildew fungus...(g)

[AnAmericanMother]

De gustibus non disputandem. (Actually all this wine snobbery can be counterproductive, if you wind up believing it to the extent that you drink what is "in" rather than what you LIKE. For heaven's sake, drink what you like. If you're ashamed of drinking Gallo or Thunderbird or whatever, put a napkin over the label. :-D )

But if somebody leaves you a good cellar in their will, call me! :-D