full-bodied see body below
body
The impression of texture or weight in the mouth, comprising an amalgam of elements including alcohol, extract, glycerol, and acid. A wine with a rich, complex, well-rounded, lingering flavor is considered full-bodied; one that’s watery or lacking in body is called light-bodied or thin; a medium-bodied wine ranks in between. Not all wines strive for a full-bodied characteristic, namely those whose hallmark may be finesse, such as Champagne. Dessert wines, like rich Sauternes, are considered full-bodied partly because the residual sugar adds weight and texture.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.