Almost everything you notice in a wine can be described with five building blocks. When they work together, we say the wine is balanced.
Acidity
What makes your mouth water and keeps the wine fresh. High acidity feels sharp and lively; low acidity feels soft but can turn flat. Acidity is the backbone of most white wines.
Sweetness
The amount of residual sugar. A fully dry wine has almost none; a dessert wine has plenty. A touch of sweetness can balance high acidity — like good lemonade.
Tannin
Found mostly in reds, from grape skins and oak. It's the grippy, slightly drying feeling on your tongue and gums, a bit like strong tea. Tannin gives structure and helps wines age.
Alcohol
Gives warmth and weight. You feel it as a gentle heat in the throat. Too much stings; too little can feel thin.
Body
The overall impression — the wine's "weight" in your mouth. Think of the difference between skimmed milk and cream. Light, medium or full.
Next time you taste, try to place the wine on each scale. That's exactly what the pros do — and now so can you.