| Every true wine lover must occasionally contemplate on what
the difference between a very good and great wine is. It is
hard to pinpoint what it is that captures our admiration and
intellect in a great wine, just as it is difficult to define
the line between excellent craftsmanship and art. There are
a few criteria that separate the great wines from the very
good.
First and foremost, the wine must be of exceptional quality.
Its aromas and flavors should be more complex and deeper
than its peers. The texture should be finer and more luxurious
and the finish should not only be longer in duration, but
in its mouth-feel. It does not have to be concentrated or
penetrating, but it should definitely be harmonious and have
finesse. A great wine should have a unique personality and
communicate the essence of a particular place, time, and
philosophy.
Wine is no longer a production-driven, but a consumer-driven
industry. With perfection of wine making technology and in-depth
market research, wine brands are increasingly designed to
fit current fashion and consumer tastes at affordable prices
in nearly every wine-producing country in the world. Although
these wines are appealing to a large number of consumers
and can be admired for their quality consistence and competitive
price, these wines are rarely worthy of long contemplation.
Even if such a mass-produced wine goes beyond being simply
good and reaches excellence, with all trace of terroir and
vintage character erased, it lacks that stamp of authenticity
and uniqueness that comprise greatness.
There is an art to enjoying a truly great wine. Such a wine
does not necessarily taste great at every point in its evolvement.
There can be times when it is too young, hard, unyielding,
or going through an introverted phase or worse, past its
prime. There are also conditions and times that yield the
wine drinker herself incapable of perceiving greatness and
because once opened, a bottle of wine's potential greatness
is fleeting. A great wine requires enjoyment at the right
moment, for both the wine and the wine lover.
As anyone who has ever been duped by a famous label with
a dear price will tell you, prestige is not a guarantee for
greatness. Sadly though, the reverse statement that all great
wines are expensive usually is true. Despite this, great
yet affordable wines can be found by those willing to look
for them in lesser-known, emerging, or unfashionable regions.
Discovering a great wine at an affordable price and enjoying
it at its peak in the company of a like-minded companion
is one of the sweetest experiences a wine lover can have.
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