Take a sip of the wine and allow it to linger on your tongue for up to five seconds before swallowing. What are the flavors? Is the wine sweet? Is it acidic, indicated by a sour taste? Are the flavors balanced? Is the tannin (a natural compound in grapes that produces a bitter taste) too strong? After your initial taste, sit back and reflect on the experience. Did the wine leave a pleasing aftertaste? What was its texture: light-bodied like water, medium-bodied like milk or full-bodied like cream? What foods would bring out the wine’s flavors? And, most importantly, do you like it?