I've been a member of the same wine tasting group for over 20 years, with many of the same participants. We "rank" by preference rather than "rate" by number, which makes for more useful discussions -- one member has to defend a 1st place vote while another has to justify an 8th place vote, sometimes on the very same wine. We have very lively discussions! But as to wine language, we've learned to make a useful distinction between "in" and "like." If I say "I smell black cherries IN this pinot noir," that's fairly objective; others may or may not find the same element, but the description helps to focus attention in a way that makes the conversation converge. But if I say "this wonderful pinot noir MAKES ME THINK of Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca," or "this pinot noir smells LIKE a redwood forest after a rain shower," that's accepted as an emotional summary of one's REACTION to the wine rather than an objective description of what's "in" it. Often those "evocative" or "poetic" phrases are meant somewhat tongue-in-cheek and for entertainment value. Such flights of poetry can be at least as helpful as objective science -- with that wine in front of me, "Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca'" did seem EXACTLY the right description for what I was feeling.

"But if I say "this wonderful pinot noir MAKES ME THINK of Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca," "

Why, because it tasted like Champagne, which is unless I'm mistaken the only alcoholic beverage Ilse drank, maybe a bourbon but I doubt it.

i understand, Alanto. Eigen -- Ilse may have been drinkening champagne, but I suspect if you licked that soft hollow where her throat meets her shoulder,

you'd think of something "plummy, jammy, or bulging with fruit".