describing "spice"

[joeyz6]

Sometimes as I take a sip of wine I feel a sensation on the middle or back of my tongue that I initially describe as "spice," because it feels like a spicy food. Then, often, I realize that it's just the sensation of the woodiness of the wine. What do people think about this? Are wood and spice completely different on the palate for you? Does one bring out the other? How often do you think novices confuse one for the other?