The Accidental Connoisseur

As Lawrence Osborne searches for that elusive je-ne-sais-quoi that makes a great wine great, he takes the reader on a journey that includes encounters with winemakers and importers, sellers and corporation men, dedicated oenophiles and average consumers--many of them colorful, eccentric, or--in a few cases--amusingly pretentious. Osborne also indulges in provocative speculations about the differences in European and American wine preferences, and has a good deal to say about the current wine guru, the all-powerful American Robert Parker, whose controversial numerical ratings system has transformed wine consumerism. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.