Mochael Broadbent's Winetasting: How to Approach and Appreciate Wine

by Michael Broadbent

The Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guides provide an indispensable series of books on all the main wine regions of the world. Written by the leading experts in their fields, all ten titles offer a wealth of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1857327616
• ISBN13: 9781857327618
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Mitchell Beazley
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.7" x 3.7"

Customer Reviews

A marvelous classic

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