I first wrote about this back in August of 2008 when I read about a group of psychologists at the University of Edinburgh who recruited a group of two hundred and fifty adults to take part in a wine tasting experiment.

It is fairly common knowledge that our one sense that never shuts down, smell, works by fitting different shaped groups of molecules into receptors in our nose. However this does not explain how intensity is perceived and here it is thought that vibrations may come into play.

The University team tasted wines blind while listening to Mozart and Jimi Hendrix and notes were made to see if the capacity of music to trigger the neurotransmitter serotonin or the hormone epinephrine would have any effect on “taste”. In other words does this sense also rely on vibrations?

I just had to find out for myself and so eight wine knowledgeable friends were invited to our home and copies of Eine Kline Nachtmusic, Mozart’s only concerto for two pianos, and All Along the Watchtower (not by Dylan who wrote it or the U2, Springsteen or the Grateful Dead version, but Hendrix himself) were readied for our 350 watts of NAD power along with Polk speaker systems. Vibrations would be in the air.

Guests were given tasting sheets that asked for one to ten ratings on tannin, fruit, body, aroma, bouquet, finish (length) and colour intensity. I poured the first red from a decanter and no one knew that it was the 2005 Merlot from Stags Leap Winery in Napa Valley. Mozart filled the room as folks swirled, sniffed and made notes.

I poured the second red as Jimi sang “Business men drink my wine — Plowmen dig my earth” and again notes were taken. “Very different wines” was the unanimous conclusion.

In fact out of the seven categories that we asked to be rated one to ten, only one had the same result and this was “body” that totalled 54.

The other six were quite different. I then showed the two completely identical empty bottles of Stags Leap Merlot to the group who were really quite taken aback.

To find out for yourself why not purchase two bottles of our Stags Leap Winery Merlot 2011 for $51.20 each.

Winery notes made in a quiet cellar refer to generous aromas of dark plum and bright red fruits with enticing hints of clove and cinnamon.

Smooth, velvety tannins and a refined texture making the wine very approachable in its early years. A few weeks later we were staying with friends in the city of Napa and we told them about our tasting with the influence of radically different music.

They asked for us to repeat it in their home. People in the wine trade were invited, and even though one was the winemaker for one of the Napa Valley icon Cabernets, the results were virtually the same as they were here in Bermuda.

So have a party for ten to twelve guests, buy wine and have some fun. I picked the Merlot as I thought it a good wine, but not one that screamed its identity as Syrah or even Gewürztraminer might.

White would be good to start with and I am thinking Chateau St Jean North Coast Chardonnay 2012. It is bright with notes of ripe apple, creamy lemon pie, warm vanilla and brown spice. It is really quite refined and to my mind does not shout out its individuality.

It is $20.45 a bottle and just remember to pour while playing the classic, fetch another brown bagged bottle and pour while the room rocks. Maybe our CUNE Reserva 2009 from Spain for $28.95 would be a good candidate. Bright ruby-red, sexy red fruits, oak spices and floral oils on the nose.

Sweet, deep cherry vanilla and black raspberry. 91/100 from the International Wine Cellar.

This column is a paid for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East. 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St. George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits are available online at www.wineonline.bm.