25. What does “tannin” mean, and how does it contribute to the structure and aging potential of wines?

Tannins: Texture, Time, and the Shape of a Wine

When people first hear the word tannin, especially in the context of wine, they often imagine something exotic or mysterious—something you’re supposed to notice if you’re really paying attention, like a hidden detail in a painting. But tannins aren’t hidden at all. They’re right there, front and center, every time you take a sip of a bold red and feel your mouth dry out a bit, almost like your tongue just ran across a velvet curtain. That’s tannin.