Hollow describes a wine that seems to have flavour at the beginning and perhaps a finish, but lacks substance or flavour through the middle of the palate. Tasters may also call this a gap in the mid-palate. It is generally a critical descriptor because the wine feels incomplete or lacks continuity.
After the initial aroma and first taste, the fruit or structure seems to disappear before the finish. The cause may relate to grape maturity, concentration, balance or winemaking, but the tasting impression alone does not identify a specific fault.
Example: a red wine may open with ripe cherry aromas and finish with noticeable tannin, yet feel hollow if the fruit disappears across the middle of the palate.
Related terms: thin describes a general lack of body or concentration; short describes a finish that fades quickly.
This term is one of hundreds covered in depth across OCS courses, learning paths, and 1-on-1 coaching with Chef Eric.
