We recently opened a super expensive wine (it was my birthday) and it was super tremendous.
Just how super tremendous? Well, let’s see. It exceeded my highest expectations. And it was right up there with the best I’ve ever had. Or was I too influenced by my own anticipatory excitement? Hard to tell. How do you tell?
I knew well in advance that the wine was a big deal, gets great ratings and reviews, and in addition to being expensive, is also hard to find. All this should make for a great experience, whether it’s wine we’re talking about, a restaurant, a new car, or whatever it might be. Seems like it would all add up to some kind of enduring, enjoyable experience.
I always do this with wine. I always hope for the best, and despite knowing it can’t always happen, I do it anyway. I want the wine to be great, memorable and wonderful. I believe this optimistic approach does indeed influence my opinion. It seems only natural. Perhaps it makes me overlook a small flaw or weakness, or accentuate whatever strengths are offered. I’m not immune to human nature.
I suppose then these fancy, highly anticipated wines (or restaurants, or cars) have an edge before the actual analysis even begins. So be it. It’s an emotional response and it’s not easy to change an emotion even when you want to.
Writing objectively about something so subjective like wine is paramount when that is indeed the task. Otherwise, my bottom line is to enjoy the extra edge that positive anticipation creates.
Of course, there are occasional disappointments when the wine turns out to be unworthy of all the excitement, but most of the time, it’s deserving of the all the fuss. Contemplating in advance how good the experience may be is fun all by itself. And I like the idea that a positive expectancy often makes things seem a little better.
Ernest Valtri of Buckingham is a sculptor, painter, graphic designer, and a former member of the PLCB’s Wine Advisory Council. Contact Erno at ObjectDesign@verizon.net.
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