There is a lot of wine ‘lingo’ that gets tossed around. And here is yet another phrase that is commonly used - grippy tannin.
One of the components of a wine, especially a red wine, is its tannin. It is derived primarily from grape skins, seeds and stems, but also from oak barrels.
While some may describe tannin in a wine as causing an astringent reaction in your mouth, others describe tannin as making your mouth feel like it’s full of cotton balls, dust or like having a sandpaper-surface sensation. Others simply describe a wine as having “grippy'“ tannin.
This term “grippy” comes from the sandpaper analogy. If you rub two pieces of sandpaper together, there’s going to be a lot of friction or stickiness.
In your mouth, the astringency of a wine’s tannin can make your tongue feel like it’s rough - like sandpaper. And, it can make the roof of your mouth feel rough - like sandpaper. Then, when you slide your tongue against the roof of your mouth you’ll experience this friction or “grippy” sensation.
So, next time your hear or read about a wine as having “grippy” tannin, you’ll know that you’re in for a wine that is highly tannic. Get your decanter ready! Cheers!