Wine Glossary - E & F
From: Wine Taster's Glossary, Barbara Ensrud
July 25, 2011
Earthy
Smell or flavor reminiscent of earth. A certain earthiness can be appealing; too much makes the wine coarse.
Elegant
Refined character, distinguished quality, stylish, not heavy.
Extra Dry
A term used on Champagne labels to indicate not-quite-dry; not as dry as Brut.
Fat
Full of body and flavor; fleshy.
Fine
Distinguished.
Finesse
Distinctive balance; fineness; elegance and flair.
Finish
Aftertaste, or final impression the wine leaves; it can have a long finish or a short one (not desirable).
Firm
Taut balance of elements; tightly knit structure; also distinct flavor.
Flat
Dull, lacking in liveliness; wine without sufficient acid.
Flavor
How the wine tastes.
Fleshy
Fatness of fruit; big, ripe.
Flinty
Dry, mineral character that comes from certain soils, mostly limestone, in which the wine was grown; typical of French Chablis and Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs (Sancerre).
Flowery
Aroma suggestive of flowers.
Forward
Developed ahead of its peers; also, when the fruit is prominent, it is said to be forward.
Foxy
The "grapey" flavors of wines made from native American grapes, Vitis labrusca.
Fruity
Aroma and/or flavor of grapes; most common to young, light wines but refers also to such fruit flavors in wine as apple, black currant, cherry, citrus, pear, peach, raspberry, or strawberry; descriptive of wines in which the fruit is dominant.
Full-bodied
Full proportion of flavor and alcohol; big, fat.
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