26 MAY 2007, Page 79

Q. The other night I gave my guests a very

good wine costing £40 a bottle. They drank it without commenting. I wonder whether there was any way in which I could have made them pay greater attention to what they were drinking without appearing to be soliciting some display of gratitude or praise for my judgment.

Name and address withheld A. Keep your good wine back for the company of wine bores only. They will want to discuss it without any prompts from yourself.