Words Used Differently to Describe Wine

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the varied terminology used to describe wine, focusing on how different words can convey different aspects of wine flavor and experience. Participants share personal reflections on their wine tasting vocabulary and reactions to a specific article on the subject.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion over wine descriptions and references a New York Times article that attempts to clarify the use of certain terms.
  • Another participant notes a familial connection of the article's author to the science writer Isaac Asimov, indicating interest in the author's background.
  • A participant shares their personal experience with wine terminology, highlighting a preference for certain descriptors like "delicious" and "fruity" over others such as "interesting" or "profound."
  • A parody wine review is presented, showcasing a playful take on wine descriptions with exaggerated and whimsical language.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the effectiveness or clarity of wine descriptions, with varying personal preferences and interpretations of terminology expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reflect on their own usage of wine descriptors, which may not align with the more traditional or complex terms discussed in the referenced article. There is an implied variability in personal experiences and interpretations of wine flavors.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in wine tasting, wine criticism, or the nuances of language in describing sensory experiences may find this discussion relevant.

BillTre
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I used to drink wine fairly frequently, but not so much now.
The descriptions always seemed somewhat confusing to me.
Here is a NY Times article on how a particular wine critic describe how he uses words to describe wine flavors.
Some of it makes more sense to me now.

He describes 15 terms. His effort goes down well.

His lean article does not have too much length, a lot of structure and has depth, but not a lot of precision in my opinion.
 
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Nice article. I note that the author is nephew of the wonderful science writer Isaac Asimov.
 
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hutchphd said:
Nice article. I note that the author is nephew of the wonderful science writer Isaac Asimov.
I was wondering about that.
 
in regard to words describing wine, i have noticed that, of late, i often use the words "delicious", "fruity" "acidic", "alcoholic", "gentle", ..., but not so much the words "interesting", "complex", "thoughtful", or "profound".
 
A made up wine review parody:
Rather upstartish, full-bodied but mild, this convivial claret has strong, but unalarming, blackcurrant and cherry overtones, almost reminiscent of Anjou pears, and a smooth, not too tannic, finish.
 

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