![]() ![]() Music can enhance our appreciation of wine. There is now almost 30 years of research leading to the same conclusion. The music had similar effects on both red and white wines and was independent of whether the subjects liked the wine. Both wines were scored significantly higher on the powerful/heavy metric by those who listened to the powerful/heavy music (Orff’s Carmina Burana) and the same effect was found with the other dimensions tested. After rating the wines along four dimensions-powerful and heavy, subtle and refined, zingy and refreshing, and mellow and soft-they tasted the wines while listening to music chosen to highlight each dimension. This recent research is on top of the earlier studies in which test subjects show statistically significant agreement about which wine goes best with music samples presented to them (cross-modal correspondence) and that the right music can influence specific aspects of the tasting experience, such as perception of sweetness, flavor notes, perceived acidity, and level of astringency (cross-modal influence).įor instance, in one study by British music psychologist Adrian North, subjects were offered a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Chardonnay. The study also measured the influence of pitch on aromatic intensity and the perception of acidity. And Jo Burzynska’s published research includes a paper entitled “Tasting the Bass,” which investigates the effects of lower frequency sound on the perceived weight and body of a New Zealand Pinot Noir and a Spanish Garnacha. Master of Wine, Susan Lin wrote her thesis on the effects of music on the taste and mouthfeel of Brut Non-Vintage Champagne. Wang showed that, in a winery tasting room, wines tasted with a soundtrack chosen to enhance oak-derived flavors were rated as significantly fruitier and smoother than the same wines tasted in silence. Which means that at just $40, you might want to buy as much as your wallet will allow.The evidence that pairing music with wine can enhance one’s tasting experience continues to mount since I last visited this topic in 2017. We dare say it’s worth the $300 the market would usually demand for it. It all makes for an unforgettable Napa Cabernet. Especially in the hands of a man who’s appeared on the cover of Wine Spectator, the high-pedigree fruit retains all its freshness and classic Howell Mountain character. The winds and elevation give the wine its high-toned polish, without sacrificing an iota of the fantastic density. ![]() The deep, dark, lavish concentration and huge, fine-grained tannins pull you in with a plushness that feels immersive, right up to the lingering finish. When the project fell through, we swooped in, eager to preserve this thrilling Cabernet as a single-vineyard designate. The fruit from this famous vineyard, perched 1,800 feet above sea level on Howell Mountain, was originally destined for a high-profile blend priced at the top of the market. The experience is all the more memorable for its out-of-this-world value. The rocky, rhyolitic land provides little in the way of nutrients to the vines, training the plants to send roots deep in search of moisture, and focus on producing succulent and ripe berries. Like a sunbather on the beach, every facet of the parcel is touched by the sun, the various aspects mirroring the complexity of the soil. At the top of Howell Mountain, bordered by stands of trees, the 35-acre site is bowl-shaped and studded with hills. We were able to visit this vineyard- described by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate as “incredible”-on foot, but the ideal way to appreciate it would really be by helicopter. Balanced by beautiful acidity, the tannins are big and healthy, and render a long, chiseled finish. ![]() Glass-staining purple, yielding heady aromas of baked black fruit dusted with cinnamon and cocoa, it’s rich and ripe on the palate, with a base of vanilla-laced black plum topped by high notes of raspberry liqueur. We haven’t been able to get this wine out of our heads since we tasted it. What should be $300 will cost you just $40 per bottle. By stepping in when we did and keeping the vineyard-and the winemaker described as “Napa’s top gun” in Wine Spectator-out of the press, we were able to shave a huge margin off the price per bottle. Rarely have we encountered a bottle that so perfectly encapsulates the personality of an appellation: the big, broad-shouldered power of Howell Mountain. But even concealing those details, this wine speaks volumes about its place of origin-a snapshot of a vineyard in peak condition and perfectly timed to the vintage, a photograph that actually grows sharper and more deeply colored with age. If we could tell you the names, you’d be shocked. ![]()
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