Balance on the palate

Balance is one of wine's most important quality concepts. A well-balanced wine has no single element that dominates unpleasantly: acidity, tannin, alcohol, fruit and any sweetness work together harmoniously. High acidity without fruit feels sharp and thin; high alcohol without acidity and fruit feels hot and flat; high tannins without fruit feel dry and astringent. When assessing, you ask yourself: does anything stand out negatively? If the answer is no, the balance is good. Balance is not synonymous with simplicity – a complex wine with many elements can be perfectly balanced. Climate, grape variety, harvest timing and winemaking all interact to shape balance. An experienced taster can assess balance after just one or two sips.