FEMININE
Said of wines that are tender and light rather than high in tannins and robust.
FILTRATION
Clarification of a wine using filters or other processes.
FINE
Said of a high quality wine with great balance and complexity.
FINESSE
Quality of a wine that is delicate and elegant and well balanced, offering a velvety, soft structure and subtle aromas.
FINING
See Clarification.
FINISH
The perception of some aspects of wine (flavor and aromas) after it has left the palate. A long finish is an indication of the wine’s aromatic power.
FLAT
Said of a wine that lacks both a bouquet and acidity.
FLAVOR
Former synonym for bouquet that is no longer used to describe wines.
FLESHY
Said of a wine that is full on the palate, with a chewy consistency.
FOLLE BLANCHE
A white grape variety that produces a very lively wine (Gros-Plant and Armagnac).
FRAGRANCE
Synonym for odor.
FRANK
Said of a wine that is straightforward and well constructed.
FREE RUN JUICE
During red wine production, the wine that runs freely from the vat by the force of gravity alone.
FRESH
Said of a wine that is slightly acidic, but not excessively so, and produces a fresh sensation that is sought-after for its thirst-quenching properties.
FRUIT SET
Appearance of the grape berries as the blossom transforms into fruit.
FRUITY
Said of a wine that has fruity aromas. All young wines are fruity, but some varieties are fruitier (such as Syrah) and some more floral (Viognier).
FULL-BODIED
Said of a wine that has all of the qualities desired in a good wine and provides a sensation of fullness on the palate.
FUMÉ BLANC
Name used for Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire Valley and specifically in Pouilly-sur-Loire, hence the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. This should not be confused with the Pouilly-sur-Loire and Pouilly-Fuissé appellations in Burgundy).