Tasting notes: Do you take 'em and why?

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

@dcornutt

Every great wine I have ever had is embossed in my memory. I can pull out the sensory experiences just by a deja vu experience. I don’t need to write it down any more.

So, as your mind ages…what “sticks” are every “great” wine…and “sensory experiences” with them? You must have great vitamins…or…have very very few “great wines” (though from your tasting notes, every wine you report is “great”).

What about the rest…just forget them?

You’re not being serious…are you?

[BrianMarshall]

@dcornutt

@Pete Lawley

I came to realize that I wasn’t very good at writing them and that I really had to concentrate way too hard in order to compose decent notes. The concentration required detracted from my enjoyment to the point that I stopped the note-writing process.

This is very interesting.

This might be a little tangent but in Buddhist meditation there is a point at which your concentration during the meditation becomes a giving up to the impressions that flow in your mind. They come and go at will. You don’t try to fix them in time.

At that point, you are a master at meditation. I think the same happens with these tasting notes in folks who really write them well.

Sometimes the more you just allow your brain to do its thing, the better the tasting notes. Don’t try to force the impression. This is why practice with notes requires years of writing to really become proficient. Get to the point where it is a natural spontaneous thing. I never did to tell you the truth.

It is often more of a right brain (sensory) than left brain (true cognitive) experience. The problem is that when you are in that kind of mental state it requires more to remember the exact impression.

This is just my take and maybe a little tangent but I thought this was interesting.

Don, I think this is a pretty interesting take on this.

[dcornutt]

@Stuart BeauneHead Niemtzow

@dcornutt

Every great wine I have ever had is embossed in my memory. I can pull out the sensory experiences just by a deja vu experience. I don’t need to write it down any more.

So, as your mind ages…what “sticks” are every “great” wine…and “sensory experiences” with them? You must have great vitamins…or…have very very few “great wines” (though from your tasting notes, every wine you report is “great”).

What about the rest…just forget them?

You’re not being serious…are you?

Yep. Serious. The rest are way down there in my bank.
Difficult to get out.

You can ask others here.
I never take notes at tastings any more unless asked for specifics.
I just want to enjoy the experience.
If the wine is great, I will never forget it.

[Daniel_McIntosh]

What Don said.