Yes, a Missouri native and graduate--1974 in Ag Economics and Journalism. I live about 20 miles from Lawrence now, but still own and operate a farm in Missouri.
Someone told me the Mogan David Concord was too sweet and didn't have the benefits of "other red wines". He was adamant about it. Have tried lots of different merlots but I keep drifting back to the cheap stuff. I imagine it's a combination of lack of taste and my education... With most of the merlot wines I feel a need to cleanse my palate after a glass of wine. I find Michelob or Corona the most effective at getting that taste out of my mouth. (I'm not too fond of impressionist art, either and I've even been known to vote Republican on occasion. I suppose there's little hope for me.)
Good luck with your masters. Don't forget that just by being enrolled you're ahead of the vast majority of the rest of us.