We had our big social event of the week last night, a wine tasting.
It’s pretty basic: everyone brings a bottle of wine to our complex’s small clubhouse, we pull out some chairs and tables, and kind volunteers divvy up each bottle one at a time into tiny paper cups for a blind taste test.We then jot down our personal opinions with such erudite descriptions as, “not bad”, “too sweet”, “drinkable”, and “yuck” and assign a number 1 to 10. One person is famous for picking his up at Walmart. Incredibly, last year his $2 contribution was one of the winners, but this year’s bottle was downright revolting. But even though no one had shelled out big dollars, we still had a few pretty good contenders.
We had a healthy turnout, all five tables filled to capacity, and were already into our 4th sample when my next-door neighbors breezed in. Everything stopped while two chairs were found and added to a table, and they were given a score sheet. It wouldn’t have been so annoying if they hadn’t come empty-handed, with just a can of soda between them. Since they don’t drink, I still can’t figure out why they were there, except this is sort of par for the course for them.
Things sailed along for another twenty minutes until the door opened again, to another couple, although at least they’d brought a contribution. My friend next to me and I buzzed to each other, “Honestly! How can you arrive a half hour late to something like this! Buzz, buzz. “Inconveniencing everyone like that!” Buzz, buzz.
Well, today I learned that the second couple had arrived at 7:00 instead of 6:30 simply because they’d been given the wrong time.
Guess I’d better put aside my holier-than-thou robes of indignation.
So you don't go for the "woody notes with a little floral yet resinous afterthought" kind of judgements? They crack me up.
ReplyDeleteI stand in the liquor store and read those descriptions on the back of the bottle as though it will tell me anything. I'm afraid nature issued me a very pedestrian palate.
DeleteI do wonder why the non drinkers came - and what was the point of giving them a score sheet? I feel for the second couple. I have often found that price is not a reliable indication of quality in wine.
ReplyDeleteMy sister introduced me to a boxed wine that is as good or better than many expensive ones I've tasted. You just cannot go by the bottle or by the label!
ReplyDeleteI've often been told about the excellence of some boxed wine. The problem for me is that it takes up too much room in the fridge, and much more importantly, they're too easy to access and too easy to miss how much you're drinking!
DeleteLooks like the Barefoot pinot is a popular choice! I guess the non-drinkers just wanted the camaraderie. Sometimes it pays to be the only sober people in the room, from a gossip point of view. (Not that I am ever the only sober person in the room.)
ReplyDeleteFunny - I hadn't noticed the predominance of that label.
DeleteAh well, those robes feel f=so comfy.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I fear I wear them a bit too often.
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