Wine Glossary

H

Half-bottle- Holds 375 milliliters or 3/8 liter.

Hard- Firm; a quality that usually results from high acidity or tannins. Often a descriptor for young red wines.

Harmonious- Well balanced, with no component obtrusive or lacking.

Harsh- Used to describe astringent wines that are tannic or high in alcohol.

Hazy- Used to describe a wine that has small amounts of visible matter. A good quality if a wine is unfined and unfiltered.

Heady- Describes wines with a high-alcohol level.

Hearty- Used to describe the full, warm, sometimes rustic qualities found in red wines with high alcohol.

Herbaceous- Denotes the taste and smell of herbs in a wine. A plus in many wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, and to a lesser extent Merlot and Cabernet. Herbal is a synonym.

Hollow- Lacking in flavor. Describes a wine that has a first taste and a short finish, and lacks depth at mid-palate.

Hot- High alcohol, unbalanced wines that tend to burn with "heat" on the finish are called hot. Acceptable in Port-style wines.