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Prologue
The beginner, having fresh perception and an uncluttered vinous memory,
frequently is more certain of himself and sometimes more accurate than
a more experienced taster.
...Master of Wine Michael Broadbent, Wine Tasting
The Rest of the Story
Since the eminent expert Michael Broadbent has found beginners evaluations
significant, I had 14 beginners evaluate the same 15 wines tasted by
my Scott's Panel veterans.
Similarities
The two groups agreed on these points.
 1.
Best of Tasting
Both selected Cabernets as the two best wines of the tasting, although
six other red-wine varietals were poured.
- They agreed that Number One was the Michel-Schlumberger '94 Dry
Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, $20.
- The beginners' No. 2 was Clos du Bois '94
Briarcrest Cab, $23.
- The veterans prefered Washington State's Staton Hills '93 Cab, $16.
2. Second Best Red Varietal
Both groups' second best varietal was a Pinot Noir.
- David Bruce's '96 Sonoma County Pinot, $20.
3. Best Buys
They picked the same two,
- Bogle '96 Petite Sirah ($9) and
- Sebastiani '93 Sonoma County Cab ($10).
4. Good Value
Both felt the Georges Duboeuf '97 Cru-level Regnie (ray-nyay) Beaujolais
was well worth the $8. However, there were plenty of disagreements,
too.
Differences
1. Best White
Naturally, the beginners and veterans agreed that the best white
was one of the overwhelmingly-popular Chardonnays. WRONG!
- The newcomers DID choose a Chardonnay as #1, the Peju Province,
Napa Valley, $18.
- But the Scott's team preferred the more exotic, intensely-flavored
Rhone Roussanne by Sobon Estate, '97, $16.
2. Pink Wine
Beginners are charmed while experts scoff at pink wines. But not this
time.
- The Sobon "Rose Rhone", $9, was given higher ratings by the vets
than the newcomers.
 3.
Inexpensive Reds
Similarly, you might expect the experts to condemn the inexpensive reds.
But here are two rated substantially higher by the Scott's folks than
the beginners...
- Santa's Reserve Merlot, $7 (you'll
see it in the shops this fall) and
- Barefoot '96 California Zinfandel, $6.
Conclusion
So, if you have one of those "uncluttered vinous memories," you now
know what to buy.
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