Acidity
Lean
Definition
Narrow body with prominent acid — not plush.
Why this matters in wine
Loire Chenin young, or alpine reds.
Position inside its category
Lean
Acidity
- ○Bright
- ○Astringent
- ○Austere
- ○Thin
- ●Lean
- ○Angular
- ○Racy
- ○Tart
- ○Edgy
- ○Nerve
- ○Zippy
- ○Zesty
- ○Lively
- ○Fresh
- ○Crisp
- ○Delicate
- ○Soft
- ○Flabby
- ○Fallen Over
- ○Flat
Position 5 of 20 on the Acidity scale.
Parent category
Acidity — Acid structure on a continuum from flat to nervy — the backbone that drives food pairing more than any other single trait.
Sibling descriptors
Opposite descriptors
Nearby on the scale
More in Acidity
Appears in
Common food pairings
- Salmon
Frequently confused with
FAQ
- What does lean mean in wine?
- Narrow body with prominent acid — not plush.
- Why does lean matter for pairing?
- Loire Chenin young, or alpine reds.
- What is lean often confused with?
- Tasters often overlap lean with austere, linear. Each descriptor has a distinct place in the wine vocabulary.