Taste Decoder

Wine words, in plain English.

Somebody said the wine is “flabby”? The label says “sur lie”? Look it up — 200+ terms decoded, no jargon in the definitions.

Faults and storage

Cork Taint

What it means in wine

Cork taint is often linked to TCA, though musty faults can have multiple causes. It can suppress fruit and make wine smell dull or moldy.

Why it matters

Cork taint is not caused by visible cork pieces floating in the glass.

Want it explained for your bottle? Ask Scott about “Cork Taint”.

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Bottle Shock A temporary muted or disjointed state sometimes observed after bottling or trans… Brettanomyces A yeast associated with animal, barnyard, medicinal, smoky, or leathery aromas i… Cork Taint A wine fault most commonly associated with musty, damp-cardboard aromas. Corked A common shorthand for a wine affected by cork taint. Heat Damage Damage caused by excessive heat exposure before opening. Lightstrike A wine fault caused by exposure to certain light wavelengths, especially in vuln… Maderized A term for wine that tastes oxidized or heat-aged in a way resembling Madeira-li… Mousiness A wine fault that can create unpleasant mouse-cage or cereal-like flavors, often… Oxidation Chemical change caused by exposure to oxygen. Reduction A set of aromas associated with low-oxygen conditions and sulfur compounds. Refermentation A renewed fermentation that occurs after a wine is considered finished or bottle… Sediment Solid material that settles in a bottle or glass. TCA 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, a compound commonly associated with cork taint. Tartrate Crystals Harmless crystals that can form from tartaric acid salts in wine.