Avodah Zarah, Daf Samekh Vav, Part 2
Introduction
According to Abaye if new wine falls on grapes, then even if there is the smallest amount, the grapes are prohibited. Today s sugya contains a difficulty on Abaye from the mishnah.
תנן יין נסך שנפל ע"ג ענבים כו’ קס"ד חמרא חדתא בענבי מאי לאו בנ"ט לא במשהו
We learned: If yayin nesekh fell upon grapes etc. Now you should assume that this is new wine upon grapes. And are they not prohibited only if it imparts a flavor?
No, [they are prohibited] even in the smallest quantity.
The mishnah says that if the grapes are cracked, they are prohibited. The Talmud makes two assumptions: 1) this is new wine, which has the same taste as grapes; 2) the grapes are prohibited only if the wine imparts taste. This then rejects Abaye.
הא מדקתני סיפא זה הכלל כל שבהנאתו בנותן טעם אסור כל שאין בהנאתו בנותן טעם מותר מכלל דבנותן טעם עסקינן ואביי מתניתין בחמרא עתיקא בענבי
Since it teaches at the end [of the mishnah]: This is the general rule: whatever derives advantage [from yayin nesekh by its] imparting a flavor is prohibited, but whatever does not derive advantage [from yayin nesekh by its] imparting a flavor is permitted, it follows that we are dealing here with a case where it does impart a flavor.
Then what would Abaye [say]? Our Mishnah refers to old wine [which fell] upon grapes.
The problem with assuming that the grapes are prohibited even if a small amount of wine falls on them, is that the end of the mishnah clearly shows that the mishnah is referring to cases where the mixture is prohibited only if the prohibited substance imparts taste. Therefore, the mishnah does seem to be a difficulty on Abaye who prohibits the grapes even if a small amount of wine falls on them.
But, no worries, Abaye can resolve the mishnah by saying it refers to a case of old wine that falls on grapes. Since the old wine has a different taste, the grapes are prohibited only if one can taste the wine.