What does it mean to soften tannins?
When someone says a wine’s tannins are softening, they’re talking about a transformation in texture. Young tannins can feel astringent—grippy, drying, or even bitter. As a wine ages, those same tannins mellow out. They start to feel smoother, rounder, silkier. Less like a sandpaper handshake and more like a velvet hug.
