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Article: Sometimes It's Good to Show Up Late
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- November 5, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Tannins are one of wine's basic building blocks. They give red
wines structure and the ability to age. In wine tasting parlance,
they can be supple, silky, velvety, soft, ripe or sweet. They can
also be aggressive, chewy, harsh, green, angular or searing. Rustic
if we like them, coarse if we don't. Tannins are fickle things.
We cannot smell or taste tannins, but we can feel them. If you've
ever let your tea steep too long, you've felt their astringent,
drying effect on your palate and mouth. They make your teeth itch.
In big red wines, good tannins -- the supple, ripe type -- creep
up at the finish just as the fruit fades and tickle your teeth with
a pleasant caress that reminds you ...