Primer H

Learn wine vocabulary thanks to this primer specially designed by the Bordeaux Wine School.

H

Half-bottle

This bottle size is 37.5 cl, and contains 3 glasses of wine. The format is popular among on-trade wine professionals.

Hard

Describes a wine that lacks body, it is often very tannic and/or acidic. This is due either to an excessively long barrel or tank fermentation, or excessive acidity (the result of a premature decision to harvest the grapes).

Harsh

Describes an astringent wine of low quality.

Harvest

The act of picking the grapes when they reach full ripeness. The date of the harvest is a critical time for any winemaker. In Bordeaux, the harvest begins when three indicators come together

Heady

Character of a wine with a high alcohol content, may even be overpowering.

Heavy

Describes a thick wine with a high percentage of alcohol.

Herby

Describes odors or aromas which recall dried hay, tobacco or fresh grass (a negative connotation because it derives from grapes that have been harvested before they have ripened correctly).

Hollow

Just like a speech, describes a wine with no substance.

Honest

Describes a wine that leaves no after-taste that may suggest any sort of fault. It is also said to be clean or straightforward.

Honeyed

A term to describe a sweet white wine that is unbalanced due excess sugar and a lack of acidity. The heavy sugar expression is reminiscent of honey.

Hydric stress

Refers to a lack of water and the reaction of the vine plant. Hydric stress blocks the vegetative cycle, imparting color changes, defoliation, sugar progression or even a drop in yield during some periods of heatwave.