Well...

[ksmith]

I read in another post (ok, docbrite's, but she doesn't allow comments, so I almost feel as though I'm reading a column) that Chardonnay is the wine that wine snobs have the most contempt for.

Could someone who is more wine-savvy than I am explain why this is the case? Is it because it's a good 'starter wine'--odds are that if you won't like anything, or are just beginning to drink wine, you may like Chardonnay? Is it because there are too many brands and the quality has been diluted? Heck, you could say that about Merlots.

I've tried a few other white wines, and none that I've sampled have the depth and flavor of a good Chardonnay. Forget German wines, unless there's one out there that isn't sweet. As for Chenin Blancs and Pinot Grigios--if you could suggest one that doesn't taste like a glass of water that someone waved a grape over, I'd truly appreciate it.

I don't have much appreciation for delicacy in wines (or beers, for that matter). "Lean," "light," and "spritzy" are not adjectives that will attract my attention.

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Mom's not a wine drinker. Dad's taste ran to very sweet ports and cream sherries, which I can't stand.

Editor took me out to lunch during Torcon and introduced me to good port. My barbarian's palate betrayed me. Couldn't finish the glass and wound up giving it to her. Couldn't fault the complexity--it's rich stuff. But not to my taste.

[juliabk.livejournal.com]

I've never been able to tolerate port or cognac. I used to buy my dad a bottle of Courvoisier every year for Christmas. It would last him just about a year, mostly because no one else could stand the stuff so he never had to share it. :-):-)