Both descriptions are valid for each taster. Each knows what THEY taste. For white wines this is usually a sign of oxidation and spoilage. For younger vintages, thin and watery. For older vintages, fruit gone.
Tannins give a wine a bitter taste and an astringent mouth-feel.
Tannin to Fruit Ratio. A TFR of 3 offers the best potential for harmonious aging. Wines with TFRs of 5 will never balance with respect to tannin and fruit. Although TFR is difficult to evaluate, it is most telling of how a wine will evolve with time. Between good B- and average.