Top Tips On Identifying Wine Faults by pippym122
There’s nothing worse is there? There you are, wilting under the gaze of a stern looking waiter, as you nose your glass. Your job is simple; is the wine good, or is it in bad nick? So far, so straightforward… Not so, according to many of us (this is voiced as a common concern in our wine tasting events). How can you make absolutely sure the wine is in bad condition? After all, you’ve had wines you thought were duff, but whether they were faulty or not was another matter. Many people assume that when a wine is in bad condition it is “corked”. In reality this is just one of a range of possible faults. How, then, do you spot out of condition bottles, and what do you do about it when you find them? Here’s the process (it will help you cover the main bases): TAKE A CLOSE LOOKFirstly consider the wine’s appearance. IF YOU SEE CRYSTALS IN THE GLASS Don’t necessarily worry about these. This is almost never a fault. Crystals are just generally tartrates, which are a natural by-product of the winemaking process. You can crunch these if you like (they taste of nothing). IF YOU SEE CORK FLOATING IN THE GLASS Likewise, if you see cork floating around in the wine, this is not a sign of corked wine, or what wine people occasionally term “cork taint”. It’s just a sign of a pourer/bottle opener who’s a) not very observant or b) a little clumsy. IF YOU ARE SEEING BUBBLES IN A NON SPARKLING WINEIn white wine this is also not necessarily the sign of a fault. Certain winemakers (particularly the Germans and Italians) may leave carbon dioxide (another by-product of fermentation) in the wine to give it a little added “spritz”. If you are seeing bubbles in a red wine, unless it’s a sparkling example (there are a number of red sparklers out there), it could be a sign that the wine is refermenting, which is a problem. IF THE WINE IS HAZY OR CLOUDY This, generally, is bad news. A hazy or cloudy appearance is a sign that the wine is unstable, and should be treated with caution. THEN HAVE A SNIFF Swirl the wine in the glass to release the aromas. A host of tasting terms are used to describe wine that is in poor condition. CORKED This is literally the smell of damp cardboard and indicates that the wine has some level of cork taint, known in the wine trade as trichloroanisole (most commonly referred to as TCA). This only happens of course with wines that have been traditionally closed with a cork. VINEGAR/SHERRY-LIKE AROMAS If a wine smells of vinegar, or is Sherry-like (when it’s not a Sherry), this is a sign of an oxidised wine. MOULDY/EARTHY If a wine appears mouldy or earthy in character, this may be a sign of unhygienic winemaking equipment (an unusual fault these days). SULPHUR Sulphur is regularly used by winemakers (amongst other things it is an antioxidant and an antiseptic). Wines that have a sulphur related fault may, in extreme cases, show a rotten egg aroma. OTHER FAULTS You may come across one or two other terms wine buffs use when talking about faults, such as phenolic aromas. These tend to be more contentious in the wine world as some people believe certain types of phenolic aroma (such as brettanomyces) are Good News. THEN TASTE…OR DO YOU? By now your eyes and nose will have done the majority of the work for you. There is little more that your taste buds can or perhaps will want to do. So what happens now? WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE KICKING UP A FUSS IN A RESTAURANT Tell the waiter/manager you think the wine is faulty. At this stage, the truth of the matter is that different restaurants have different approaches. Some will replace your wine without question, some will do a straightforward refund, and some will move you away from your original choice. Some, post tasting, may disagree with you (it does happen). Don’t let any of this put you off – if you are not happy, say so. FROM A MERCHANT If you have a vacuvin (a device that literally sucks the air out of an opened bottle of wine), use this immediately. With very few exceptions wine that is left in contact with air for 2/3 days will deteriorate in quality, and merchants may be a bit tricky about taking back an expensive bottle that’s been opened a week ago, and is now oxidised (as they can’t taste it to corroborate your thoughts). Bearing this in mind, it’s important to get the offending bottle back to the merchant promptly. Make sure you’ve got the receipt and be clear with the merchant on when you opened the bottle and how you opened it. As an example, some people decant mature red wine, and then pour the wine back into the bottle using a funnel in a process known as double decanting. Again, different merchants have different policies for such returns, but if you follow our guidelines above, you should be in good shape.
Pip Martin is the founder of The Wine Adventure. Pip runs International, UK-wide and London wine tasting games & other events for corporate entertainment.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Top-Tips-On-Identifying-Wine-Faults/568338
|
|
Ultra Rare “Toast to You” Cork Lined Bottle Cap 50% Donation to The Boy Scouts $4,500.00 |
|
|
Rare Russian pair silver Jewish Rabbi figurines/wine bottle stopper cork $1,900.00 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 150ml 4712033 $1,075.74 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 150ml 4712033 $1,051.99 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 100ml 479033 $854.26 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 100ml 479033 $835.99 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 80ml 477033 $770.42 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 90ml 3712027 $759.34 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 374027 $738.78 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 80ml 477033 $753.99 |
|
|
19C. ANTIQUE HANDMADE BLUE GLASS BOTTLE WITH CORK $750.00 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 90ml 37120125 $716.63 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 90ml 3712027 $742.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 374027 $722.99 |
|
|
Antique early 1800´s bronze wine bottle capper corker screw cork press RARE ! $689.00 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 90ml 37120125 $700.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 3740125 $664.42 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml 475033 $632.78 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 65ml 379027 $616.96 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 3740125 $649.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml 475033 $618.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 65ml 3790125 $574.25 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 25ml Test tube 3060 $585.32 |
|
|
1861-O Seated Liberty Half And Beer Bottle W/Cork Still In Bottom $600.00 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 65ml 379027 $603.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 25ml 306017 $558.43 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 25ml Test tube 3060 $572.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 65ml 3790125 $561.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 60ml Test tube 30120 $526.79 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 305017 $510.97 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 25ml 306017 $545.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 22ml 2865125 $517.30 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 22ml 3055125 $514.13 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 20ml Test tube 2750 $490.40 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 20ml Test tube 2290 $490.40 |
|
|
2-500pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 60ml Test tube 30120 $514.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml 377027 $510.99 |
|
|
nice bottle with cork mirafiore numbered A4370760 $500.00 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 2280125 $474.58 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 22ml 2865125 $505.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml 377027 $463.51 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 22ml 3055125 $502.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 305017 $499.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 50ml Test tube 30100 $458.76 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml 3770125 $463.51 |
|
|
10-1000p Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml Test tube 3040 $458.76 |
|
|
ANRI VINTAGE WOOD 3 MEN SINGING & DRINKING CORKSCREW BOTTLE OPENER & CORK $475.00 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 150ml 4712033 $447.69 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 55ml 3011017 $454.02 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml Test tube 2290 $479.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml Test tube 2750 $479.99 |
|
|
40′s / 50′s Dorthy Kindell Sexy Topless Hawaiian Hula Girl Bottle Cork Topper $450.00 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 2280125 $463.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml 304017 $431.87 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 18ml Test tube 2270 $427.12 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml Test tube 3040 $448.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 50ml Test tube 30100 $448.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 55ml 3011017 $443.99 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 150ml 4712033 $437.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml 2265125 $395.48 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 18ml 2270125 $395.48 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml Pyrex 304017 $421.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml 2460125 $387.57 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 18ml Test tube 2270 $417.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 374027 $379.66 |
|
|
10-1000 Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml 303017 $362.26 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 40ml Test tube 3080 $374.92 |
|
|
10-1000p Glass Bottle Vial Cork 13ml Test tube 1880 $363.84 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml 303010 $359.10 |
|
|
10-1000p Glass Bottle Vial Cork 13ml Test tube 1880125 $359.10 |
|
|
1958 Lithograph Bernard Kassoy Art Nude Woman Glass Cork Bottle Dorsay Parfum $385.00 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 40ml 308017 $355.93 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 100ml 479033 $355.93 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml 2265125 $386.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 18ml 2270125 $386.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 35ml Test tube 3075 $352.77 |
|
|
10-1000p Synthetic Of Natural Cork Bottle Tube #43.5 $348.02 |
|
|
10-1000 Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml Pyrex 2445125 $348.02 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 80ml 477033 $332.20 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 12ml 2255125 $332.20 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 3740125 $340.11 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 20ml 374027 $370.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 12ml 2450125 $336.95 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 15ml 2452125 $336.95 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 30ml 3270125 $336.95 |
|
|
2-500pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 40ml Test tube 3080 $366.99 |
|
|
10-1000 Brown Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml Pyrex 2250125 $332.20 |
|
|
1-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 90ml 3712027 $330.62 |
|
|
Cork Pops Wine bottle Foil Cutter in a yellow and Blue $358.26 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 13ml Test tube 1880 $355.99 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml Pyrex 303017 $353.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 30ml 307017 $321.13 |
|
|
10-1000p Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml Pyrex 303010 $350.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 13ml 1880125 $350.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 14ml 2260125 $350.99 |
|
|
1-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 100ml 479033 $347.99 |
|
|
2-500pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 40ml 308017 $347.99 |
|
|
2-500p Clear Glass Bottle Cork 30ml Test tube 2770 $306.89 |
|
|
2-500pcs Glass Bottle Vial Cork 35ml Test tube 3075 $344.99 |
|
|
10-1000pcs Clear Glass Bottle Vial Cork 10ml 2445125 $340.99 |
|
|
Oster Electric Wine-Bottle Opener When gathering with friends, it’s nice to be able to keep the wine flowing without having to retreat to the kitchen to open more bottles. This convenient, portable electric bottle opener can be kept close at hand, wherever the party ends up-in the living room, out on the back deck, or by the pool. The electric bottle opener offers a cordless design and enough power to effortlessly remove the cork … |
|
|
Thermos Nissan FBB1000 34-Ounce Stainless-Steel Vacuum Insulated Briefcase Bottle $20.95 34Oz/ 1.0L, Black Stainless Steel 34 oz Compact Beverage Bottle. TherMax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention. Unbreakable stainless steel interior and exterior. Light, compact design allows larger capacity in a smaller bottle. Leak-proof for no-spill transport…. |
|
|
Vacu Vin Wine Saver Extra Stoppers, Set of 4 $3.99 Wine should breathe a little, but not overnight. Putting an end to the oxidation process, which turns a favorite Merlot into vinegar, is easy with the Vacu Vin Wine Saver. These long-lasting extra stoppers are designed to work with the vacuum-style pump (sold separately) to keep a wine fresh. Made of high-quality rubber, they won’t affect the taste of the wine. And the method is simple–just place… |
|
|
Information Society – Greatest Hits: Strange Haircuts/Cardboard Guitars/Computer Samples $7.60 … |
|
|
Cork N’ Bottle String Band: The Ken’s Bar Story $12.49 CORK N’ BATTLE STRING BAND:KEN’S BAR – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Bottle Corks & Shoestrings $14.99 … |
|
|
SE 6-1 Camping S. Steel Detachable Knife 4 Body $3.49 New camping utensil set. This sturdy tool is made of high quality stainless steel. It includes a sharp knife, fork, spoon, corkscrew and bottle opener. A great tool for weekend camping! The tool even separates, so you can use the knife and fork in different hands. It comes with its own storage bag. Folded length: 4 1/2″ Weight with bag: 5.3 oz… |
|
|
True Utility TU48 Twistick Functional Stainless Steel Key Ring Corkscrew $7.99 True Utility Twistick Keychain Cork PullA solid 4mm bar of 422 grade stainless steel with a ball bearing on the end, passes through the centre of a full size corkscrew helix, to create a beautiful and highly functional personal corkscrew for all wine lovers. The two parts are then locked safely together witha split ringThis tool is inconspicuously available to use to open a bottle of wine – at any… |
|
|
Cork Stopper Lamp Kit Turns a Keepsake Wine Bottle Into An Instant Lamp! (Lot of 2) $12.24 That vintage wine bottle will never look better! Here is your chance to convert your collectible into a lamp that will be the center of conversation. This cork stopper lamp conversion kit works with any standard wine bottle and is assembled and ready to use. The brass plated socket has a push-thru, on-off switch and the 6 ft. brown cord has a polarized molded end plug. The 1″ cork measures 7/8″ di… |
|
|
Designer Wines $14.99 Only a few years ago the business of growing and selling high quality wines was tightly controlled by just a handful of countries. France of course, Germany, Italy. They utterly dominated the wine world and there was no possibility that their domination would ever be broken. Now, just a decade or so later, and we have some of the finest award winning wines coming from all over, from California and… |