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Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:15 pm
by Bob Ross
Tim, believe me, I was a real rookie when I posted my first notes here -- and people couldn't have been nicer or more helpful.

Now, as you know, I can't be silenced!

You'll find a whole new level of learning and fun when you start posting your notes, and in the case of this tasting, you have the reactions of the other tasters to report on as well.

You won't be alone in any sense of the word.

Regards, Bob

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:44 am
by Max Hauser
TimMc wrote:I wrote notes but I am reluctant to share them here for fear it won't match up with the collective experiences on this BBS.

Tim, that's precisely the classic wine-anxiety phenomenon which is a big issue in wine-tasting groups.

In case you're interested in it, some time ago (1987) I raised this exact subject on the Internet's wine newsgroup and it produced a thoughtful thread that I saved, and that has sometimes been useful since then. It has not lost a bit of relevance. Because the thread is not currently publicly archived, I re-posted it in full Here.

(Incidentally this example is very typical of the wine newsgroup traffic, then and now, though some threads were longer or had more data.)

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:21 am
by TimMc
Read the collection of posts you referred to and seems they target some of the same issues I have relative to sharing notes.

BTW, I am not at all a shy person, I just know my limitations.


One of the things that holds me back is in that blind tasting the wines [as they normally will] change as they open up. So I didn't want to be the guy who is talking about the wine in my glass at a different point in everybody's tasting. Make sense?

As an example, one of the first wines in the flight had a very tight nose but a mouth full of fruit. Later, I went back to that same glass and you would think I had described an entirely different wine. The nose had opened up some, but was still hard to get. However, the fruit had evolved into a distinctly black cherry note and soft finish. I would have sounded like a brash novice.


I will share this much, the most expensive Zin finished dead last in the tasting which surprised me. I picked it as last, as well. So I guess you score one for me, eh? :D

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:42 am
by Bob Ross
Tim, with respect, let me quote a really useful tasting note:

[Insert name and vintage of wine here] [initially had] a very tight nose but a mouth full of fruit. Later, I went back to that same glass and you would think I had described an entirely different wine. The nose had opened up some, but was still hard to get. However, the fruit had evolved into a distinctly black cherry note and soft finish.

I've written much worse TNs.

REgards, Bob

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:27 pm
by MikeH
TimMc wrote: I will share this much, the most expensive Zin finished dead last in the tasting which surprised me. I picked it as last, as well. So I guess you score one for me, eh? :D


That wasn't a Rombauer was it? JuliaB is a big Rombauer Zin fan!!! :wink:

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:07 pm
by TimMc
No, it was a Renwood Amador County 2002.

In fact, all the Zins were from either Amador County, Sonoma County, Napa, or Lodi, Califonia.

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 12:57 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
Renwood last, I am not surprised! This winery(?) has been going downhill for quite a while.

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:09 pm
by TimMc
Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:Renwood last, I am not surprised! This winery(?) has been going downhill for quite a while.


Didn't know that...thanks for the heads-up.

Renwood is highly spoken of in California, but this Zin was made in that godawful "California style" [a name which causes me to just grit my teeth]. That is, thin body and a watery finish. Red colored water with alcohol, basically. Horrible stuff, but very popular among the former Sangria and Boonsfarm drinkers.

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:12 pm
by TimMc
Bob Ross wrote:Tim, with respect, let me quote a really useful tasting note:

[Insert name and vintage of wine here] [initially had] a very tight nose but a mouth full of fruit. Later, I went back to that same glass and you would think I had described an entirely different wine. The nose had opened up some, but was still hard to get. However, the fruit had evolved into a distinctly black cherry note and soft finish.

I've written much worse TNs.

REgards, Bob


So this would be OK wine tasting notes?


I guess all this time of reading the posts you guys write is beginning to pay off!


Thanks, Bob :D

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:18 pm
by Bob Ross
Absolutely.

And you've already given us quite a bit of info about the tasting.

I would love to read a typed version of your notes for the whole thing.

Regards, Bob

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:49 pm
by TimMc
Bob Ross wrote:Absolutely.

And you've already given us quite a bit of info about the tasting.

I would love to read a typed version of your notes for the whole thing.

Regards, Bob


Maybe next time, Bob.


I am still a bit, um....shall we say, "gun shy" when it comes to offering an opinion on this BBS. No offense, but I'll take a raincheck. Not willing to risk it right now.




TBH, I have not been well recieved here relative to my particular points of view.

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:51 pm
by Bob Ross
You're doing just great, Tim.

Until next time then.

Regards, Bob

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:53 pm
by TimMc
Bob Ross wrote:You're doing just great, Tim.

Until next time then.

Regards, Bob


Thanks, Bob.


You are definitely one of the Good Guys on this BBS.



I appreciate it.

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:52 pm
by Bob Parsons Alberta
Hi Tim, hope to see some TNs in the future. I do not worry what others think when I post, its all in my mind/in my scribbles.
Notes from Bob R very precise and easy to read.
My notes have questions, humour and bs!!
Tom Hill, I now like his style but it took time to get used to it......oak/vanilla/cherry/more oak/ tannin/chalk/plum and so on.

Cheers Bob P

Re: Joining a Wine Tasting Group

PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:46 pm
by TimMc
Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:Hi Tim, hope to see some TNs in the future. I do not worry what others think when I post, its all in my mind/in my scribbles.
Notes from Bob R very precise and easy to read.
My notes have questions, humour and bs!!
Tom Hill, I now like his style but it took time to get used to it......oak/vanilla/cherry/more oak/ tannin/chalk/plum and so on.

Cheers Bob P


Thanks, Bob.


Maybe I'll give it a go sometime.