placebo effects in wine

Haha nice find! It is true though. Your brains like to play tricks on you.

Thanks for that great article- fun stuff to read.

I say there are placebo everywhere where it is a matter of personal preference.
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Interesting though how Parker was able to stay within a tight range, despite the 5 point spread he had on those 15 bottles.

Like anything mood, endurance, fatigue, associated food, blood sugar levels, health will all affect one's sense of smell and taste. Considering tasting wine is a combo of the tongue, nose and brain it is no wonder that given a different time and place, ratings would be different.

Harder to do with headphones, easier to do with any other piece of gear though (since they don't have to physically touch the person).

Excellent article, thanks for posting.

It seems to me the problem is that they are trying to make distinctions that are finer than what they are really capable of making.

IMO: I think 99% of folks can only distinguish between the following 4 categories. Even distinguishing between the last two can be tough:

Garbage: Carlo Rossi, Arbor Mist, etc.
Table Wine: Yellow Tail, etc.
High Quality Wine: Less mass produced, no shortcuts
Truly Exceptional Wine: Made in small quantities with excruciating care

That said, if you can't tell the difference between a fine Bordeaux wine and Carlo Rossi, the only explanation is your taste buds were destroyed in a horrible accident.

Well, I think it can be more granular than merely 4 categories. There are plenty of subcategories. I can easily tell between grapes (I only drink red) and I much prefer a Bordeaux to just about anything, except maybe a really good Burgundy or Borolo or a really spicy Australia blend depending on my mood.

I figure most would be able to easily tell between a Pinot Noir and a Shiraz, and with practice, one could start to hone their skills and get into figuring out proportions in blends.

If a wine is very fruity, the nose could easily exhibit memories of raspberry, plum or cherry. For those well experienced with eating grass and dirt and sniffing leather (yes there are those that train for this), they will have a more elaborate palette because they will have learned to distinguish between various scents.

If scientifically humans tend to max out at 4 particular flavours (wood, fruit, leather and spice for instance from a wine) then those proclaiming 6-8 may be spinning a tale, but otherwise it wouldn't be too hard to get various flavours particularly as the oxygen begins to react with the wine over time.

Anyone have a quick taste upon opening and then another right after decanting and then another after letting it sit for 3 hours...well, those are all variables that will change the flavour of the wine. Also, temperature has a large effect on the taste as well.

The best advice is to taste various wines and try to stay within a company's offerings or a type (terroir and country) to get the most bang for your buck.

Those that love Merlot and may be willing to spend $50 on a bottle, may be pleasantly surprised when tasting Carmenere wine from Chile. This is very reminiscent of the Merlot grape and was actually thought to be Merlot grapes until not too long ago folks figured out it was actually the Carmenere which was thought to have been lost to wine makers a hundred years ago. A good bottle can be had for $20 and will compete handsomely with Merlots in the 50+ range.

So when someone claims that a wine has the bouquet of "old sock"....

Sorry, I meant quality grades within wine types. You really can't compare a Chardonnay to a Malbec. Might as well be compare beer to wine.

So true, yet my goodness, I know people who would have trouble with it: "White tastes like red!"

*smacks forehead*

It means don't drink it?

Here is a hilarious video by Penn and Teller where they spoof a bunch of diners at a fancy restaurant to test the power of placebo:
Penn and Teller ******** "The Best"*: MallusTUBE : Desi Youtube Only for Mallu Video Lovers, Malayalam Movie Videos, Malayalam Hot Clips, Masala Desi Videos, Bollywood Hottest Songs.

Taste and hearing can be influenced by a lot. That's why you should always take other people's opinions with a grain of salt.

Things like general health, ear shape, past experiences, intoxication level, volume level, hearing damage (if any) and mood can change the way a headphone sounds. You could probably add a dozen more to this list. Most of these can change the taste of wine/beer too (except, obviously the hearing-related variables).