What distinguishes a late harvest wine?

A late harvest wine is specifically characterized by being produced from grapes that are allowed to remain on the vine longer than normal, leading to a higher sugar concentration. This process results in the grapes becoming overripe, which enhances the sweetness and flavor complexity of the resulting wine. The increased sugar levels in these grapes contribute to the rich, concentrated profiles often found in late harvest wines. Additionally, late harvest wines typically have a balanced acidity that helps to offset the sweetness, making them enjoyable and complex.

The other choices describe characteristics that do not align with the nature of late harvest wines. For instance, lower alcohol content is not distinctive to late harvest wines; in fact, they can often have higher alcohol levels due to the increased sugar content being fermented. The selection of young grapes in early season is contrary to the concept of late harvest, which focuses on the sweetness derived from overripe fruit. Lastly, while aging can affect many wines, the concept of late harvest is specifically tied to the timing of grape harvesting rather than an obvious aging process.