Recognize a corked wine
To impress your guests for a meal, take a bottle of wine that goes well with the tastes of your preparations. Once at the table, when all the elements are ready, open the bottle. However, it may happen that when opened, it gives off a more or less strange smell which is unusual. It may be a corked wine.
The particularities of a corked wine
One of the peculiarities is the smell of an exhalation of cork , cork, wet cardboard , damp earth and mold . This smell is peculiar and very unpleasant. Do not rush to throw the bottle away, because it may be that this smell is a characteristic feature of wine. To confirm your doubt, it will be necessary to go to the tasting, because some corks which do not emanate any odor may be defective wines and others which give off a musty smell may be acceptable wines. Corked wine is linked to the TCA bacterium.
Where does the problem comes from ?
It is often believed that it is wines at low prices that encounter this problem, which is not the case. Even if you keep the bottle in good condition, you may be exposed to this problem.
This can result in a cork processing problem at the base. The deterioration of the cork will contaminate the wine and transmit this unpleasant smell. The degree of wine contamination can vary depending on the cork and the bottle itself. A corked wine has less sparkle or can give off that marked smell of damp cork. At the table, some of your guests will feel the smell less, which is completely normal, but to settle, you will have to taste the wine.
Corked wine for corks
It should also be noted that not all wine bottles are affected by this cork problem, as it only affects those that are closed with corks. You should not experience this smell of corks if you take a bottle with a screw cap or a bottle with a plastic cap. That's not to say these bottles are problem-free, as you can also face premature wine oxidation .
Nowadays, we are not often confronted with this problem, but in the past, these wines represented nearly 15% of production. Manufacturers have been able to circumvent this problem with an optimal treatment of corks. Quality control has also made it possible to reduce the percentage of corked wines.
Find out what our corks are made from .
Tips for recognizing a corked wine
This wine has a musty taste and it is distinguished by a smell that is very similar to that of the animal and if you feel this about your wine, aerate it in a decanter. To make sure you have a corked wine, serve a little in a glass so you can taste it. Do not stop at a first tasting: for the second tasting, remember to rinse your glass with clear water and pour a little more wine. If the corked taste is still persistent, it is very likely that the wine is corked. To give this bottle a second chance, close it and wait two or three days for another tasting. If the taste is still present, you will have to part with this wine.
What to do to avoid the taste of cork?
Some winemakers use better corks for their bottles and separate them from the bottles during storage. It is therefore more advisable to take these wines so as not to come across a bottle with a cork problem. If you plan to consume the wine within the year, the cork stopper can be replaced by a synthetic stopper or a screw cap. Also when buying, turn directly to wines that do not have cork stoppers. Also remember to aerate your wine to reduce this unpleasant smell.
To avoid the taste of the cork, it is also possible to decant the wine. Check out this article to learn more about settling.
Use corked wine
In case you could confirm that you really have a corked wine, it is better to take it back to the store where you bought it. If you are refused to exchange it, it is not unusable: you can perfectly use it for the preparation of a sauce. If the cork taste is not very pronounced, you can start preparing a beef bourguignon, a veal blanquette or a coq au vin. Corked wine is also used by cordons bleus for marinating meat, especially beef for simmering. This wine will bring another taste to the meat.
