Johannes Brahms was once invited to dinner by a noted wine connoisseur. In the composer's honor, the man opened one of his finest bottles. "This," he announced to his assorted guests, "is the Brahms of my cellar."
Brahms nodded, carefully examining the wine -- inhaling its bouquet, swirling it in his glass, and holding it up to the light -- before setting it down without further comment.
"How do you like it?" the host asked with anticipation. "Well," Brahms replied, "better bring out your Beethoven."
[On another occasion Brahms told Wagner himself that he (rather than Wagner) was the best Wagnerian of his time.]
Sources
A. Rubinstein, My Young Years; Specht, Johannes Brahms
