Tight refers to a red wine that is not quite expressive in aroma and flavour when it is initially opened and tasted. This term is often used to describe younger red wines.
Tight wines generally have high acidity and tannin levels that haven’t yet integrated smoothly with the wine’s fruit and other components. Over time, as the wine matures, either in the bottle or after being decanted, it can open up, meaning the flavours and aromas become more pronounced and harmonious.
Essentially, a tight wine is one that needs a bit more time to reveal its full character.
