Wine Tasting Glossary (4/End)

The ABCs of Tasting by Château Fontesteau – Third installment: S through Z. Stay tuned for more...

S

Sappy: A rich, full-bodied wine, intense in both aromas and alcohol.

Silky: A wine with smooth, velvety tannins, harmonious and elegant.

Sour: A wine spoiled by bacteria, turning acetic (vinegary).

Structured: A well-built wine with power and a solid backbone.

Supple: A soft-textured wine without aggressive tannins or acidity.

Sweet: Applies to wines with residual sugar.

T

Tannic: A wine high in tannins (from skins, seeds, or oak). Can be structured or astringent.

Tannins: Phenolic compounds responsible for structure and astringency in red wines.

Texture: The tactile sensations of a wine (fine, dense, silky, rough, etc.).

U

Unctuous: A smooth, velouté, and soft wine.

V

Vinous: High in alcohol, with a pronounced flavor and aroma.

W

Watery: A diluted wine lacking substance. Example: "This rosé is a bit watery; it lacks body."