Bad-tempered woman, former spouse recalled, into French wine (5)
I believe the answer is:
vixen
'bad-tempered woman' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'former spouse recalled into french wine' is the wordplay.
'former spouse' becomes 'ex' (an ex-spouse).
'recalled' is a reversal indicator (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'into' is an insertion indicator.
'french wine' becomes 'vin' ('wine' in French).
'ex' written backwards gives 'xe'.
'xe' going inside 'vin' is 'VIXEN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for vixen that I've seen before include "Mate of 2" , "Rudolph's partner" , "Female fox - spiteful woman" , "Bad-tempered woman - earth mother?" , "Female with a brush" .)