Describes one of the four basic tastes (along with sour, salty and sweet).
Some grapes--notably Gewürztraminer and Muscat--often have a noticeable bitter edge to their flavors.
Another source of bitterness is tannin or stems. If the bitter quality dominates the wine's flavor or aftertaste, it is considered a fault.
In sweet wines a trace of bitterness may complement the flavors. In young red wines it can be a warning signal, as bitterness doesn't always dissipate with age.
Normally, a fine, mature wine should not be bitter on the palate.
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