Home of the BrewNosers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/ ... lonk-taste" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's absolutely true that most people can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive. It's equally true that cheap and expensive don't equate to points on the quality scale. otoh, there are a whole lot of people who can tell the difference in quality, and tell you why. There are even quite a few people who can tell you exactly what you're drinking - from which vineyard, etc (generally only within a specific area). The study would have been a lot more interesting to me if they'd only tested people who claimed to be authorities on wine. otoh, you'd not get participation from the fakes who really can't taste anything.

I can usually tell if something is expensive. Harder to tell if it is cheap.