Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide: Michael Broadbend's Wine Tasting: Fully Updated for 2001/2002

This is a terrific book and a great bargain. He teaches you how to serve and enjoy wine, including the rarely found aspect of judging age of wine, and suggestions on how long to air wines before drinking. There are full color illustrations showing the difference between young, mature, and old wines. The opinions are honestly stated as opinions, not misleadingly given as gospel. One of the most helpful suggestions to me, is to be bold in regard to how long to air your fine wines. There is also information on glasses, storage, and serving wine to help anyone gain more enjoyment from his collection.

The first edition of this handy little book was published in almost 50 years ago, and it has been revised from time to time, not so much as to the substance, but more to update references to specific wines and new developments in the science of taste and to reflect Broadbent's experiences in tasting wine. Broadbent has been tasting wines and writing down his impressions for a very long time -- a small phamplet became the first edition of this book in 1968. This book captures the essence of what he has learned about tasting wine during his career as a wine merchant and a wine auctioneer, dealing throughout both careers with wine consumers. "My viewpoint is based, fair and square on the finished product, as it appears on the market." There many treasures here, not the least Broadbent's position that you don't need to be an expert, or even interested in wine, to enjoy drinking it. But drinking is not tasting wine. "Drinking pleases, mellows, loosens the tongue and inhibitions; drinking wine with food is healthy and natural; drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures. To some, tasting is work, tasting is learning; tasting adds immeasurably to understanding, and understanding to deeper enjoyment." Broadbent's prose is clear, and he has a gift for quoting some of the giants in the wine lovers world. Example: "I was convinced forty years ago -- and the conviction remains to this day -- that in wine tasting and wine-talk there is an enormous amount of humbug." T. G. Shaw, 1863. Broadbent provides almost no humbug in this marvelous little book. Robert C. Ross 2007 2008