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Apparent answer: aeration (mostly).

Also, sucking a straw forces you to drink in a way that maximizes exposure to your palate, somewhat the same way "pro" wine tasters drink wine.

If you have an hour or two free, get one of those little wine aerators and do the taste test. It's a night-and-day difference.

This also appears to be one of the topics addressed in Myrhvold's epic _Modernist Cuisine_.

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Perhaps this relates to the experience I've heard some relate, finding that food tastes better when camping. There's more fresh air, more air movement, and perhaps deeper breathing from moving around more.

You can taste anything in that way by bubbling it through your teeth - I do it with wine when tasting, but also sometimes with beer, cordials, etc - it enhances the flavour. No need for a straw.

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