Absorption (lat. absorbere = to absorb, to take in) is the diffusion of substances into the interior of a solid or liquid. Taste absorption (also aroma absorption or loss of aroma) refers to the phenomenon that various taste and aroma substances are absorbed (taken up) by materials during the storage of a wine. This mainly concerns substances with poor water solubility. Synthetic closures such as plastic corks have the greatest absorption effect. On the other hand, natural corks are far less absorbent, screw caps hardly absorb at all and bottle glass is not absorbent at all. However, the loss hardly has a negative effect on a wine due to the smallest quantities. In contrast, adsorption is the accumulation of substances on the surface of solid materials.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena