Nobody cares. Period. But don;t start tearing your hear out right away, it’s not all so bad. It’s just how life works, I figured it yesterday evening. Playing a game of wine critic is rewarding in many ways, it improves your physical state and self-esteem. “Yes, you can!”, that’s how it works. In the end your ability to describe a wine in terms that even a University professor cannot figure out is something well worth being capable of. We are not all sommeliers, but we can all be wine writers.

Still, the sad fact remains: I cannot recall any substantial number of wine descriptions that could inspire me to buy the wine. The uniformity of these notes set by the influential wine critics like Robert Parker back in the 80s are unquestionable and dull in their un-uniqueness and usefulness. In the end what makes one to buy a bottle of wine? Definitely not the apricot or blackberry notes in it, huh? At least, not for most of us, I gather.

Why we don’t really care about the others’ wine tasting notes is similar to why we don’t care about others in general. We value our own opinion and those of closest, at best.

Others’ we can perceive and even pretend we do agree. Some people have really similar taste buds and experience and they would probably really agree with each other. Most will just dismiss your opinion in their minds. So why bother and make all the writing in first hand?

Look at your wine notes and think of what I can make of it? It’s a creepy mess of words, describing flavour and aroma. Did you ever take this into account when choosing a wine?

Do you remember what that wine critic said about the wine you really like? Do you care? Nope. Professional wine descriptions if today’s magazines are extremely handy to those who are wine pros. Parker points come into action when the sales are concerned. I am personally more interested to know what Hugh Laurie makes of my favourite wine rather than Robert Parker. The maximum thing why I care the RP points is to compare them to mine. That doesn’t mean I do not respect Parker, it’s just useless for me.

In order to make your wine notes useful to me do one simple thing — stop describing it like everyone does. Go beyond those strawberries and white flowers, incorporate them in a clever way, give them a personal touch of your attitude and your own perception, compare it to the dog or a policeman, who cares, give me something emotional, humane and vivid. So that I could bear this in mind the next time I stop by a wine shop. Thanks!