What is "dumb phase"?

[Drew]

Here's a description that I saved a while ago off the net which I think captures the full meaning of "dumb".

A wine tasting term to mean a wine that is not showing up to its potential. Dumb in this context refers not to intelligence but inability to speak. While trying to avoid words that are anthropomorphic, this one seems particularly well suited.

Characteristic description of a young wine with yet-to-develop aromas and flavours. A synonym for "closed-in". Named so because it seems "unable to speak.

Drew