I wonder - were you using the same glass? The glass can make a HUGE change to the taste of wine. I have been to a number of "glass tastings" - you get a range of wines, and a range of glasses. You start trying a wine in one glass, then pour it into the next glass, taste again, etc. Exactly the same wine, no change whatsoever except perhaps a minute temperature change and fractional oxidisation as you pour from one to the other. And the taste change is extraordinary. I use Riedel glasses at home now...

Back to a travel twist... But still on the subject of wine. I went to a wine-tasting dinner a (longish) while ago at the invitation of CX, and two of their three sommeliers were presenting. Usual blah about altitude, dry air, blah blah blah. The most interesting comment was from the older of the two sommeliers who said a basic rule to make wine taste better is to have a really big glass. Ironic, since CX had just downsized their wine glasses (again!). Mind you, I am chuffed that CX now use Riedel-style wine tumblers in J now - they are excellent...