

Rationally Speaking #90 - On Wine, Water, and Audio
Jun 30, 2013
Dive into the world of connoisseurship as experts explore the fine lines between genuine taste and snobbery. Discover if trained wine tasters can really differentiate between a $7 and a $700 bottle. Unpack the intricacies of bottled versus tap water, revealing how expectations shape our taste experiences. The debate heats up with high-end audio cables and their questionable value, while discussions on audio formats shed light on the subjective nature of sound quality. Expect a delightful blend of skepticism and humor throughout!
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Wine Expert Inconsistency
- Wine experts often make mistakes and are inconsistent in ratings, even varying by plus or minus four points on a 100-point scale.
- Blind taste tests reveal inconsistencies, suggesting the perceived differences between wines may be less significant than claimed.
Cold-Reading Wine
- Julia Galev recounts trying to develop a refined wine palate while dating a wine enthusiast.
- She improved her cold-reading skills by interpreting her date's reactions to her wine descriptions.
Red Wine vs White Wine
- In blind tests, wine experts struggle to differentiate between red and white wines, especially when a white wine is dyed red.
- This highlights the influence of visual cues and expectations on taste perception.