Symbols of elegance and pleasure, red wine, white wine and rosé are faithful companions of our best meals and celebrations. However, they can sometimes have unpleasant surprises in store for wine lovers (other than simple red wine stains). As soon as you uncork and pour the wine, you may indeed be hit with a musty smell and taste. This is a problem known as “corked wine” which can simply ruin the pleasure of tasting a good vintage. In this article, however, we will explain to you why it occurs, how to detect it and even give you ingenious tips to try to save what can be saved. Whether you are a seasoned wine lover or simply a curious epicurean, discover these tips to better appreciate each sip of your precious bottle, because cork taint is far from inevitable!
What is a corked wine and what causes it?
Very annoying for winegrowers, the phenomenon of corked wine is mainly due to the presence of a molecule called trichloroanisole, abbreviated as TCA. TCA is formed when there is an interaction between certain natural components of cork, such as phenol, and molds present in the production environment. These molds can be present in the bark of cork oaks or in the air of aging cellars. It may also happen that the cork dehydrates when the bottles are stored upright, which will then diffuse the smell to the wine. Whatever the reason, when TCA enters the wine through the cork, it can alter its aroma and taste.
The TCA levels needed to spoil wine are very weak. However, even at minute concentrations, TCA can have a significant impact on wine qualitygiving it aromas and scents of musty, wet cardboard or cork. And unfortunately, this problem can affect both the best vintage and the cheap little piquette in the supermarket. Fortunately, this is not not dangerous for healthalthough you may experience some stomach aches, headaches or nausea and vomiting in some cases.
To avoid spoiling your tasting and limit stomach aches, learn to recognize a corked wine.
How to recognize a corked wine?
Your sense of smell is your first detector!
Smelling the cork as well as the juice can help detect a corked wine. We will then feel a dusty smell of wet cardboard, damp undergrowth, musty or even musty. That old attic smell will be your first warning sign. However, don’t judge the wine just by the smell of its color, because some bottles can have a particular scent. Furthermore, when you don’t know much about this product from the vines, you can quickly judge wrongly!
The visual test and the taste test to confirm your first impressions
Pour a glass and observe the liquid. A corked wine is sometimes darker than normal. It can also have a veiled appearancealso a sign of a bad omen. Then, it’s time for tasting. It is sometimes said that “ wine speaks through the mouth “. It’s time to put this saying to the test! Indeed, a wine contaminated by its cork will have a strong, rather unpleasant bitterness. In the mouth, we will then feel excessive astringency, acidity and a less fruity juice or a unpleasant cork aftertaste which is also reminiscent of newspaper.
To be sure of your impressions, rinse your glass with water without dishwashing liquid and without wiping it (to avoid adding dust or detergents which could alter the aromatic bouquet of the wine). Also let the bottle air out for a while, or let it sit for a day or two before testing it again to make sure you are not mistaken about the unpleasant taste perceived during the first few sips. If you still feel the aromas of musty cellar or mushroom or if you find it fadeis that the wine does indeed have a cork taste.
Can we save a corked wine? 4 tips to get it back
Wine is expensive. So it’s a real heartbreak to waste it and have to empty the bottle down the sink! Fortunately, sometimes we can save it if the cork taste is not too strong. These tips aren’t always magic, but can sometimes be enough. So it’s worth testing.
Aerate corked wine to improve its taste
While tasting, you can transfer the wine into a carafe for a few minutes. The fact of ventilate it in contact with air is sometimes enough to reduce its smell. However, decanting does not always work and can sometimes accentuate the faults of the wine.
Plastic kitchen film to save wine
Let the wine soak in a carafe to which you will add cling film. This plastic film will then capture the corky taste and give the wine its characteristic flavor. Let the plastic sit for an hour, then taste the wine again.
Using wine in cooking
If the wine has a strong cork taste, it risk of giving a strange flavor to dishes. If, on the other hand, it only has one taste barely noticeable of cap, we can consider use in cooking. Coq au vin, beef bourguignon, wine sauce, marinade… there is no shortage of options! If the recipe also uses herbs or spices, this will further limit the corky taste.
Ask to change bottle
Whether with the waiter if you are at a restaurant or directly with the winemaker if you are at home, you can politely request a replacement. This problem being common even among great wines, perhaps you will win your case! It’s always worth a try…
How to prevent a wine from corking?
To prevent your wine from corking, it is crucial to pay attention to several factors from the selection of the bottle to its storage. The first point is to choose wines from reputable producers who use quality caps. Poor quality corks can actually deteriorate over time and therefore alter the taste of the wine. If you are building up a small stock and it is not for immediate drinking, you should pay attention to it!
Next, storage is essential. Save your bottles horizontally in a cool, dark place with controlled humidity (around 70% ideally). A constant temperature is essentialbecause significant fluctuations can damage the cap and allow air to enter. Also avoid placing bottles near heat sources or direct light.
When you open a bottle, also make sure touse a clean, contamination-free, quality corkscrew. It should not ruin the cork and cause shavings to fall into your precious grape nectar… Finally, once opened, consume the wine within a reasonable time to prevent it from oxidizing and deteriorating. These good practices will help preserve the quality of your wine and avoid corking problems.