American oak, favoured in Rioja, gives the wine a coconut quality. Oak will also add a spicy character to the wine reminiscent of cloves or cinnamon. Let the wine wash over the entire palate. The first impression will be of the sweetness in the wine because of the position of the sugar-sensing taste buds. The sensation of sweetness is short and intense.
Acidity is slower to reveal itself, but lasts much longer.
The Tongue Different areas of the tongue are more sensitive to one taste sensation than another. The sensation of sweetness, for instance, is experienced at the tip of the tongue. A sugar lump placed at the back of the tongue will take a comparatively long time to register as sweet. The longer the aftertaste lingers, the better the wine. Think of these as legs of a chair.