I don't think I could pick out varietals consistently, but I know I can tell the difference between Pinot Noir and e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon or Rioja (note these are not actually varietals -- Cabernet Sauvignon wine usually has other grapes mixed in, and Rioja is always a blend). And I can definitely tell the difference between cheap wine and decent mid-priced wine; you don't need to be able to pick out varietals or country to do that.
There's a lot of confounders, though. Some wines are inconsistent; a good bottle is really good but other bottles are just OK or even bad -- one I like a lot when it's good, LAN Rioja Reserva, is like that. There's plenty of mid-priced wine which isn't good. The way wine (or anything, really) tastes varies a lot in a person, due to state of health, what you've eaten/drunk recently, etc.
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Notes -
I don't think I could pick out varietals consistently, but I know I can tell the difference between Pinot Noir and e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon or Rioja (note these are not actually varietals -- Cabernet Sauvignon wine usually has other grapes mixed in, and Rioja is always a blend). And I can definitely tell the difference between cheap wine and decent mid-priced wine; you don't need to be able to pick out varietals or country to do that.
There's a lot of confounders, though. Some wines are inconsistent; a good bottle is really good but other bottles are just OK or even bad -- one I like a lot when it's good, LAN Rioja Reserva, is like that. There's plenty of mid-priced wine which isn't good. The way wine (or anything, really) tastes varies a lot in a person, due to state of health, what you've eaten/drunk recently, etc.
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