soft; softening
A wine described as “soft” is well balanced, fruity, mellow, and pleasant—generally the result of lower acidity and/or tannins (or the perfect fusion of the two). It’s the opposite of hard. The mellowing process that a young (tannic, and/or acidic) wine undergoes during aging is called softening.
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.