Aftertaste is the flavour impression that lingers after a wine is swallowed or spat — closely related to finish, though finish emphasises length and aftertaste emphasises the character of what remains. A pleasant aftertaste echoes the wine's best aromas (fruit, mineral, spice); an unpleasant one reveals faults such as bitterness, heat or sourness. A long, harmonious aftertaste is a marker of quality and complexity.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR COLLECTORS
The aftertaste often tells you more about a wine's quality than the mid-palate. A clean, evolving, persistent aftertaste signals a fine, age-worthy wine; an abrupt or bitter one suggests a lesser bottle.
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