Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
 | | 11/23/2002 7:47 PM |
| This may or may not be a question about corked wine...
What does it mean (if anything) when you pull out the cork and it is wet about half-way up? I have only opened one bottled that I believed was corked (that musty, mildewy, moldy basement smell). Maybe I just can't detect whether a wine is corked or not. Please educate me.
Thanks!!! | | | |
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ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts:4877
| | 11/23/2002 8:04 PM |
| | bn-what you discribe is seepage. if too much comes thru and the wine is older, you may have oxidation | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 11/23/2002 8:54 PM |
| What does that do to the wine? Would it still be OK to drink?
Thanks! | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12485
| | 11/24/2002 5:33 PM |
| Not sure, myself. But, I have been getting killed with "corked" or "bad" bottles in the last 6-8 months. Went for so many years w/o any corked bottles, @ all.
The last 6-8 months...a streak of bad luck.
At least, none on the "high-end". Luckily. | | | |
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Mick Zack
Grape Fermenter
Posts:601
| | 11/24/2002 6:46 PM |
| If your getting a basement or mildew smell, I think its safe to say that it may be an indication the wine is possibly shot or atleast beginning to turn. Now with the condition of the cork may or may not be the cause of it, although if you get both scenarios (condition of cork and the mildew smell sounds like the deck is not stacked in your favor). When in doubt, dump it out. Unless its a bit expensive and your feeling adventurous, take a test sip but be sure to spit (nothing more fun than taking a big gulp of liquid mildew).
lcc-I know what you mean, I'm actually in the habit that when I go out to a BYO, I actually bring a JIC (just in case) bottle as backup.  | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12485
| | 11/24/2002 6:54 PM |
| So, what is going on? What's the deal?
Is it me or in the last year or so, the "lower-end" Wines have this problem (range $10.00-$20.00).
Are they cheating on the bottling, corks, procedure, etc...???
...Or, am I exaggerating? But, NO DOUBT, the last year or so I face this a LOT more than before.
FYI...My storage condition are same as usual. | | | |
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Mick Zack
Grape Fermenter
Posts:601
| | 11/24/2002 7:35 PM |
| I know there's been buzz about the expense of cork, dont know if their going with cheaper one's to cut expenses. It bothers me, however, I'm still an advocate of the cork, something about twisting the top off bottle of Insignia just doesnt seem right. And although St. Francis touts using the plastic composit corks drastically reducing returned wines due to them being corked, for me, it takes away from the whole romanticism surrounding wine...but thats just my thoughts.
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Mick Zack
Grape Fermenter
Posts:601
| | 11/24/2002 7:41 PM |
| Oh, and I meant St. Francis Vineyards....not the Saint...  he he he... | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2498
| | 11/24/2002 9:10 PM |
| lcc-
According to a recent article in WS, better quality corks are used for higher end wines.
Costs can vary from pennies to dollars each | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13707
| | 11/24/2002 9:33 PM |
| I just wish things did not go wrong with wine at all.
I had a corked 97 Murphy Goode cab the other night. Well, I don't think it was TCA, but it might have been poxidized. It was nasty. Thankfully it was a fairly inexpensive bottle. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 11/25/2002 12:32 AM |
| | Make mine screwcaps (for all wines no matter how high end). | | | |
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ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts:4877
| | 11/25/2002 1:09 AM |
| | does anyone know, will screwcaps help in seepage?you know help stop oxidation. | | | |
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stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2817
| | 11/25/2002 1:11 AM |
| Screwcaps should eliminate seepage completely, in my understanding.
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Cheers, y'all | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4875
| | 11/25/2002 1:29 AM |
| Who has kept a screwcap bottle for 25 yrs. to see if it would still be effective? You would need to know that if you were going to screw cap Petrus.
jb | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2498
| | 11/25/2002 1:32 AM |
| | They also much not leech components into the wine | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4859
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts:196
| | 04/07/2003 9:10 PM |
| | There is usually no relation between seepage and "corked' wine. Seepage can indicate the possibility of other problems though. As ojeffso said, seepage can hint at oxidation, but also, seepage in young wines can indicate that the wine was stored for a period of time in a very warm climate. | | | |
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