On Aug 28, 1:01?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> In article >, Ronin wrote:
> > On 2007-08-19 08:20:21 -0700, DaleW > said:
>
> > > . Mostly cassis fruit, with a note of sweet licorice.
> > > Some graphite on the finish.
>
> > I often wonder how people know what things like graphite taste like.
> > Do people go around sucking rocks so they are better able to describe
> > wine?? :-)
>
> Actually, yes. Sticking clean rocks in your mouth is not a bad way to
> develop your palate as long as the rocks aren't sharp. Pencil lead or
> graphite is in every kid's collective memory and if not sniff a number 2
> pencil especially right after sharpening it and you often will get some
> cedar as well.

I recall during my first trip to Burgundy many years ago, I actually
tasted the soil at different places to get a sense of what some of the
flavor components were. The red soil at Gevrey was the one that I
still recall to this day.