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Amontillado is a type of sherry......By the way I read this story over the summer and really liked it.
That's what I mean..."cannot tell Amontillado FROM Sherry" is a contradiction.
While both types are “sherry”, Amontillado is a very specific kind of sherry with distinctive coloring, sweet/dryness and flavor. The main character bought a significant amount and had doubts that it was the real thing. Playing on Fortunato’s arrogance and “connoisseurship in wine” he told him that he was seeking the opinion of another expert in wines. Upon hearing that, Fortunato says “Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from sherry” which implies that he could not authenticate the Amontillado from another variety of sherry – A complete insult to one who fancies himself a connoisseur. Fortunato goes even further and later calls Luchresi “an ignoramus.” Sounds like a contradiction, but it is not.
Thanks, Jon! Either that or it was a typo...
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Bill wrote: "While both types are “sherry”, Amontillado is a very specific kind of sherry with distinctive coloring, sweet/dryness and flavor. The main character bought a significant amount and had doubts that ..."That's an idea I hadn't thought of. While Spanish wines tend to be some of my favorites, I tend not to care for Sherry, although I have been to the region and tried a few. I discussed the 'Amontillado' process with a vintner in the Hill Country who explained the 'processing differences' to me in a very general way. I'm more of a Rioja man (although I don't drink very often).
For the Amontillado, I think it is more a matter of color and dryness. You can mix together lighter and darker sherry to get the right color and make a "fake" Amontillado, which I think the main character was getting at when he said he had doubts it was actually Amontillado.
Bill wrote: "For the Amontillado, I think it is more a matter of color and dryness. You can mix together lighter and darker sherry to get the right color and make a "fake" Amontillado, which I think the main ch..."Are both the light and dark sherries you speak of fine'? As I said, I don't care much for Sherry (or Port, either), and have only a passing familiarity with them.
I'm not entirely sure if they would both be considered fine. I am only vaguely familiar with sherries as I used to be a professional chef. Sherry is in the wine family so I would imagine it all has to do with the process and aging of the product. It would also differ from region to region as well. Just like wine - there is good and there is crap.
Gotcha, thanks...Now and then some friends of mine perform at a vineyard a little north of here, maybe next time they play I can ask someone there.In the meantime, I'll see if I can dig up a new question...
The original question that got it all started was a line from 'A Cask of Amontillado'. It has bothered me since the first time I read it. For those who haven't read it in a while, I'll post the relevant bits. Before the line in question, Montressor muses:
"In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen , was a quack - but in the matter of old wines he was sincere."
Yet just a bit later Fortunato says: "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."
Okay, there are three possibilities, one I discount completely:
1. Poe made a mistake (Neither I nor anyone else I've spoken to thinks this is likely, Poe was usually waaaaaay too meticulous).
2. Poe was trying to show Montressor's madness even further. (No one is buying this one either...but I think it is more probable than #1)
3. Poe was taking a jibe again. (this is the consensus so far)
The question is...Poe was in a heated (well, more than one...but especially one) war of words with another columnist. Why would he expose himself so openly? Anyone have any thoughts?