I’ve been answering wine queries on the question and answer site Quora. I’ll share some of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked and, of course, my answers. I limit myself to spending a couple minutes on each response, not doing any research or “cheating.” I rely on my experience and opinion, which is probably not a bad way handle most things.
Question: Can experts really judge the quality of wines accurately? What’s the science behind the tasting process?
Answer: I’m going to say yes, but it’s very subjective and not scientific. The key takeaway from tasting a wine and recognizing quality is balance. Are alcohol, fruit, oak, acidity all working together? Of course, then you have massive, blockbuster “hedonistic” reds that get your attention as a taster with their power & opulence. Just like zesty white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and any high acid wine can really perk up your palate.
You can tell if a wine is well-made which I would equate with quality. Poorly made wines tend to expose themselves with obvious things out of whack. And this can happen with $10 wines and $100+ wines.