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On one hand, I'm compelled to defend the luxury brands, because they do taste better. And also, as a wine salesman, I'm often annoyed by people who pooh-pooh the things they don't understand.
But I really hate rank snobbery. In wine, I hate people who insist that "big Cabs", for example, are the only way to appreciate good wine. It always seems like a bunch of rich guys who use their cellar's average Parker score to compensate for (cough) their deficiencies in other areas. It has nothing to do with wine, or taste, and everything to do with perception.
"But, Charlie! Star Kist doesn't want tuna with good taste! ..."
So yeah, kudos for busting the chops of the snobs, but shame on you for failing to acknowledge the third way: putting in the effort usually yields better results. Sometime you should try one of those expensive chocolates alongside a couple of M&Ms and see if you can't tell the difference. When you get right down to it, the price is almost irrelevant. If you spend upwards of a few dollars per week on chocolate, it doesn't matter if it's from the Scharfen Berger company or M&M Mars. It's over-indulgence.
So spend a few extra pennies and taste with your tongue, not with your belly.
