Is It Corked??

[Lesley Jay]

I have just opened a bottle of wine and the wine smells 'damp' - so does the cork. I have never come across this before so I am wondering if it is corked?

[runnerbean]

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

I have just opened a bottle of wine and the wine smells 'damp' - so does the cork. I have never come across this before so I am wondering if it is corked?

Did you store it lying down, I have never heard of this before. Could it be the snowy weather.

[Lesley Jay]

It was only a £5 bottle from the supermarket Runnerbean so it never got chance to be stored!!

Wasn't the snow lovely??

[cajary]

No, the lovely Lesley. I'm sure you didn't store it but the supermarket probably did! It's unusual for a "capped" wine to be corked. As rb implies it's usually when the cork dries out and lets the air in that it becomes "corked". Usually the cap is airtight whatever the state of the cork. Maybe it's a new damp flavour to fit in with last years summer The snow was great for us. A rare happening in our place in the woods

[corrie]

Did the cork have any wine running up it in a small line or "bleed"? This can happen when the wine is stored on it's side and not turned. If the cork is not sealed corectly, it will show in a bleed and create a damp effect, thus ruining your liquid enjoyment! Unfortunately corked wine is much more common than people think. They say one in every case is turned one way or another. One less bottle to drink!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Corrie, it was a white wine so I didn't notice a bleed line on the cork. The cork smelt of damp as well as my fingers after removing the cork from the cork screw and the wine also had a horrible damp smell to it. I have never had a bottle of wine like that before so now I only buy screw top bottles - before I always steered clear of screw tops.

[corrie]

LJ, if it was a white wine and bled it usually smells moldy and may even have a damp, moldy feel on the top of the cork. Sometimes whites gone bad will also have a vinegary smell and crystalize on the cork top under the foil. Unfortunately the foil doesn't always help with keeping ouy moisture.

[corrie]

oh...but don't rule out traditional corked wine alltogether, there are some beauties out there! The French make some great whites and they will never use screw caps even though they are more dependable!

[PlantingJoe]

A little offtopic, but nice picture, Runner. Here's hoping for snow like that here. How did the wine taste, LJ?

[Lesley Jay]

The wine didn't actually taste 'bad' Planting Joe which is why I wondered what was wrong with it. There was just an awful smell of damp both with the wine and on the cork. I suppose this is why you smell the glass of wine when the sommelier brings the bottle to the table in a restaurant.