Straight vs Fleshy Tannins and Other Wine Texture Terms Explained
One of the most confusing things when you first start tasting wine seriously is tannin. People throw out words like smooth, ripe, chalky, coarse, fine grained, and sometimes even “straight” or “fleshy.” If you’ve ever heard Raj Parr talk about Burgundy vineyards, he’ll point out how the soil can shape tannins into different textures, even when the vines grow on the same hill. Let’s break it down in plain language.
Straight Tannins
Straight tannins feel firm, linear, and drying. Picture a line of grip that runs across your gums and tongue like a backbone in the wine. These tannins often come from grapes grown in soils with more limestone, which builds tension and structure.
- Words that match: fine grained, chalky, stalky, coarse, harsh, angular, firm
- What it means: serious, sometimes austere (tight and reserved), often built for aging
Fleshy Tannins
Fleshy tannins are the opposite. They feel round, mouth filling, and coating, more like biting into fruit flesh. Chalk rich soils can give this softer feel, making tannins generous and approachable earlier in the wine’s life.
- Words that match: smooth, ripe, fine grained, velvety, silky, chewy
- What it means: softer edges, easy drinking, usually more about pleasure than long term aging
The Tannin Map
| Texture Word | Leans Straight | Leans Fleshy | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine grained | ✔️ | ✔️ | Tiny, delicate tannins that feel elegant and polished either way |
| Chalky/Powdery | ✔️ | Powdery dry, like crushed stone on your gums | |
| Smooth | ✔️ | Polished, no harsh edges, glides easily | |
| Ripe | ✔️ | No green bitterness, very approachable | |
| Stalky/Green | ✔️ | Twiggy, green, under ripe stems or seeds | |
| Coarse/Grainy | ✔️ | Big, rough tannins, rustic and unrefined | |
| Harsh | ✔️ | Aggressive tannins that dominate the palate | |
| Angular | ✔️ | Tannins that feel sharp and jutting instead of smooth | |
| Firm | ✔️ | Solid structure, noticeable grip, not soft | |
| Velvety/Plush | ✔️ | Rich, soft tannins that glide with texture like velvet | |
| Silky | ✔️ | Ultra fine tannins that feel elegant and smooth | |
| Resolved/Integrated | ✔️ | Tannins that have softened and melded into the wine over time, typically in mature bottles | |
| Chewy | ✔️ | Thick, mouth filling tannins you can almost chew |
Putting It Together
- Straight + Fine grained/Chalky/Firm → elegant, age worthy wine
- Fleshy + Smooth/Velvety/Silky → juicy, ready to drink wine
- Straight + Stalky/Harsh/Angular/Coarse → often a flaw, green or too rough
- Fleshy + Chewy → bold, mouth filling wine that feels dense and powerful
Why It Matters
Knowing the difference helps you understand why some wines feel tight and serious while others feel generous and round. It also connects directly to grape variety and soil type — a Pinot Noir grown on hard limestone might give you straight tannins, while the same grape grown on chalk could feel fleshy.
Next time you’re tasting, pay attention not just to how much tannin there is, but what shape it takes and how it feels in your mouth. That’s the difference between just drinking wine and actually reading its texture.
