Alcohol perception: warmth, not value

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The standard

A perceived alcohol effect is judged against the balance of the wine, not against the percentage. Where the alcohol fits into acid, sweetness and tannin, it recedes; where it stands alone, it turns hot.

Criteria

It shows as warmth on the finish and as fullness
It depends on acid, sweetness and tannin
It does not follow the measured value in a straight line
A balanced wine carries high alcohol unobtrusively

Distinction

Alcohol perception ≠ alcohol content: the measured value is a fixed figure, a perceived alcohol effect its changeable echo. Unlike balance, it describes only a single impression.