Palate Flashcards
Sweetness
DRY
No perceptible sugar.
OFF-DRY
Slight amount of sweetness.
MEDIUM-DRY
Noticeable but not dominant sweetness.
MEDIUM-SWEET
Clear sweetness, balanced by other elements.
SWEET
Prominent sweetness.
LUSCIOUS
Intense, rich sweetness, often found in dessert wines.
Acidity
LOW
Little acidity, makes the wine soft.
MEDIUM(-)
Light acidity, slightly refreshing.
MEDIUM
Noticeable acidity, adds balance.
MEDIUM(+)
High acidity, providing crispness and freshness.
HIGH
Very pronounced acidity, often puckering.
Tannin
LOW
Soft, gentle tannins.
MEDIUM(-)
Light tannins, noticeable but not intense.
MEDIUM
Moderate tannins, present but well-balanced.
MEDIUM(+)
Strong tannins, noticeable grip but balanced.
HIGH
Very firm, astringent tannins.
Alcohol
LOW
Perceived lightness of alcohol (11% or below).
MEDIUM
Balanced alcohol level (11-13.9%).
HIGH
Stronger alcohol presence (14% or more).
Body
LIGHT
Thin, delicate wine.
MEDIUM(-)
Lighter than average body, but still present.
MEDIUM
Balanced body, not too heavy or light.
MEDIUM(+)
Full-bodied, slightly heavier.
FULL
Rich, weighty wine.
Mousse
DELICATE
Soft and subtle bubbles.
CREAMY
Smooth, fine bubbles.
AGGRESSIVE
Harsh, strong bubbles.
Flavour intensity
LIGHT
Faint, subtle flavors.
MEDIUM(-)
Moderate, but not overpowering flavors.
MEDIUM
Balanced, clear flavors.
MEDIUM(+)
Stronger, more expressive flavors.
PRONOUNCED
Bold, intense flavors.
Flavor characteristics (Categories)
PRIMARY
Fruit, floral, or herbaceous notes from the grape.
SECONDARY
Oak, yeast, or malolactic fermentation aromas.
TERTIARY
Dried fruit, spice, or earthy characteristics from aging.
Finish
SHORT
Flavors fade quickly after swallowing.
MEDIUM(-)
Flavors persist but not for long.
MEDIUM
Noticeable length of flavors after swallowing.
MEDIUM(+)
Long-lasting flavors, still present after some time.
LONG
Flavors persist for an extended time after swallowing.
