The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Degustation \Deg`us*ta"tion\, n. [L. degustatio: cf. F.
   d['e]gustation.] (Physiol.)
   Tasting; the appreciation of sapid qualities by the taste
   organs. --Bp. Hall.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

degustation
    n 1: taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality;
         "cooking was fine but it was the savoring that he enjoyed
         most" [syn: tasting, savoring, savouring,
         relishing, degustation]