Since I've given my blog a new banner with glasses, it's only fitting that one of the first posts be one with a glass...of Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin. While my 'kids' were on their honeymoon, I opened a bottle of this champagne that my daughter and son-in-law had bought at the duty free shop on their way here. I wanted to share this bottle with some dear friends who'd flown over for the wedding, both of whom are wine connoisseurs."Cheers,' we wished each other, and took a sip. My tastebuds told me that something wasn't quite right, but it wasn't so wrong either...I just imagined I was in a wine cellar drinking champagne, for there was a distinctive musty scent and taste. My friend was sniffing the cork, and I knew what was coming: "Cork taint," she announced. "It happens now and then."
Although she decided not to drink anymore, her husband's first question was, "Will it hurt me?" Upon receiving a negative answer, he and I finished off the bottle....
Wiki says this: "Cork taint is a broad term referring to a wine fault characterized by a set of undesirable smells or tastes found in a bottle of wine, especially spoilage that can only be detected after bottling, aging and opening. Though modern studies have shown that other factors can also be responsible for taint – including wooden barrels, storage conditions and the transport of corks and wine – the cork is normally considered to be responsible, and a wine found to be tainted on opening is said to be "corked". Cork taint can affect wines irrespective of price and quality level. The chief cause of cork taint is the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in the wine. Corked wine containing TCA has a characteristic odor, variously described as resembling a moldy newspaper, wet dog, damp cloth, or damp basement."
I'm none the worse for it...
13 comments:
Sometimes it pays NOT to be an expert -:) Cin-cin!
"Cheers Bibi!"
I like the ambiance.
I LOVE your new banner Bibi!
& today's photo with story has me thinking that you read the wiki explanation after you drank it, so it couldn't have tasted that bad, right?
I'm just curious...
Would be a shame to waste it.
I really like your glass collection on the header. Thought something was new.
Your blog is simply amazing! Thank you for lighten up my days with your photos and posts!!
You are sooo funny! Cork taint ain't gonna bother you!
I like your new header, but I need glasses to see it!
Re: Silver Spring Park - yes, there are tons of gators everywhere! I would not swim in that river for anything! We took one of the rides, the Fort King River Cruise and there were gators sunning themselves all along the bank.
Cork taint! Say it isn't so. What could be worse than having a nice cold bottle of champagne ruined?! I hope the wedding went well. I can't wait to hear all about it.
V
Cheers! I love your new banner too. If that Champagne smelled like a wet dog, it probably just reminded you of Bibi after a walk in the rain—nothing bad about that, right?
Cheers! As long as it was drinkable (which it was!) then carry on!
Love this photo! & I notice the Kosta Boda - Swedish crystal candle holder. I have two! I was an ex-pat once as well. Living in both Sweden & Germany for almost 12 years before returning to the States.
your new banner is great. good story about the champagne but so sad that cork taint occurred to the champagne, which is my favorite.
hmmmm cork taint? never heard of it and will probably soon forget as I would not want to be forced to dispose of my wine before enjoying the first glass :-) Great story and thanks for visiting my blog.
I once paid too much for a 1970 Château Beychevelle that was corked. I, too, forced myself to drink it all. I just imagined that I was sipping it out of a moldy cardboard tumbler while half dozing in some musty old exclusive men’s club in London that had been neither dusted nor otherwise cleaned or even aired out since its founding in the Londinium of the Roman era. A perfect match! Cheers! Cough, cough, snort, choke.
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