Why are pinot fans so judgmental?
They have narrow minds and wont dream of praising a shiraz or cabernet. And they pay ridiculous prices for wines that, as far as I can tell, resemble weak raspberry cordial. J.B., Aireys Inlet, Vic  Illustration by Simon Letch. Credit:  Im glad we could give you a place to get that off your chest, JB. Its the unhappy lot of we style leaders (you and me) to suffer the ignorance of those plebs around us. I shout at the radio whenever that vacuous Hunters & Collectors song, Throw Your Arms Around Me, comes on; the fact that millions love it just reinforces my dislike of it. As someone who loves a good pinot, I should leap to its defence and point out that pinot isnt meant to be hearty or dark-coloured and that, as a result, it pairs better with lighter foods than shiraz or cabernet. Its more about perfume and subtlety, less about brawn and bombast. And yes, youre probably right: pinotphiles rabbit on about clones and whole-bunch fermentation and so on, as if they can tell the difference  and as if it matters. It matters to them, of course. The enjoyment of wine, like the appreciation of music, is deeply personal.