musty port

[Stalebread]

I just splurged on a bottle of 30-year old tawny port.

It has a faint, very faint, musty note to it.

Is this normal? Is it acceptable?

Otherwise, it is very flavorful, and quite good.

The bottle was laid on its side when I made the purchase. Does port have sediment that might get stirred up and cause this musty note?

[edlye]

I suspect that the musty smell might be caused by cork taint, what was the condition of the cork when you opened it? Have you finished the bottle?

[Stalebread]

I suspect that the musty smell might be caused by cork taint, what was the condition of the cork when you opened it? Have you finished the bottle?

No, I've not finished the bottle. Just started on it, actually. Not sure I wanted to continue.

The cork looked OK to me. What am I looking for? I did not detect any "off" smell on the cork.

[Colt45]

It does sound like cork taint, which you may not detect on the cork itself. My suggestion would be to return the bottle to where you bought it.

Most respectable merchants should have no problem accepting a defective wine.

[edlye]

Your best bet is to return the bottle as suggested. I'd open the new bottle on the spot before leaving the shop, just in case it is a bad batch of bottles. If the merchant is not helpful, you might want to try the distributor or the label owner directly.

If an exchange is not viable, see if decanting a small sample reduces or removes the musty smell.

[Ken Gargett]

I just splurged on a bottle of 30-year old tawny port.

It has a faint, very faint, musty note to it.

Is this normal? Is it acceptable?

Otherwise, it is very flavorful, and quite good.

The bottle was laid on its side when I made the purchase. Does port have sediment that might get stirred up and cause this musty note?

tawnies should not have sediment. it is possible for it to have cork taint, of course, though you tend to see it less in port. was this an aussie version or one from portugal?

the way you have descxribed it, it is very possible that it is merely a bit of mustiness from lengthy bottling (though i guess we don't know just how long it has been in the bottle). from the way you described it as flavourful and good, i'd suspect that if you did decant it and give it a bit of time for that to blow off, you might have somethung special. unless it is taint.

[Fuzz]

Just throwing up another possibility... is this musty smell definitely coming from the bottle? Or could it be coming from the glass?

I once smelt something really funky that I thought was coming from the port, but in fact was coming from a rarely used glass that had been in the back of the cupboard. After my friend rinsed all the glasses, the smell was gone and the port tasted great.

[Ken Gargett]

Just throwing up another possibility... is this musty smell definitely coming from the bottle? Or could it be coming from the glass?

I once smelt something really funky that I thought was coming from the port, but in fact was coming from a rarely used glass that had been in the back of the cupboard. After my friend rinsed all the glasses, the smell was gone and the port tasted great.

that is a really key point. we see it too often in tastings. swap the glasses, or clean them properly, and suddenly a whole new ball game.

[Stalebread]

Thanks for all the info, Gents.

I would rather not hassle with taking it back, so maybe I'll try decanting. Should this be a gentle, smooth decant or a "dump it all in at once" decant? What's a reasonable amount of time to allow it to sit?

Interesting about the glasses. I'll be on alert from now on. What we used were regularly used glasses, washed, well rinsed and dried with a cloth. But I do use soap -- that bit about not using soap on your wine glasses, especially champagne glasses, is taking it a bit too far for me.

[Ken Gargett]

Thanks for all the info, Gents.

I would rather not hassle with taking it back, so maybe I'll try decanting. Should this be a gentle, smooth decant or a "dump it all in at once" decant? What's a reasonable amount of time to allow it to sit?

Interesting about the glasses. I'll be on alert from now on. What we used were regularly used glasses, washed, well rinsed and dried with a cloth. But I do use soap -- that bit about not using soap on your wine glasses, especially champagne glasses, is taking it a bit too far for me.

reasonably smooth the best idea.

the soap really makes a difference. i've seen a foaming champers reduiced to totally still in seconds by a glass with a film of soap.

[Fuzz]

Interesting about the glasses. I'll be on alert from now on. What we used were regularly used glasses, washed, well rinsed and dried with a cloth. But I do use soap -- that bit about not using soap on your wine glasses, especially champagne glasses, is taking it a bit too far for me.

Another thing to note, the cloth you used to dry the glass could also transfer any mustiness if it is well used (ie damp) and hasn't been washed in a while.

[Stalebread]

the soap really makes a difference. i've seen a foaming champers reduiced to totally still in seconds by a glass with a film of soap.

I didn't realize it could make that much difference.

Other than using washing soda how does one clean glassware?

[Stalebread]

Another thing to note, the cloth you used to dry the glass could also transfer any mustiness if it is well used (ie damp) and hasn't been washed in a while.

Good point.

For stemware and most other glass I get out a fresh cloth.

But I'll be on guard from now on.

.

[Stalebread]

.

Just to follow-up.

I decanted the port. Let it sit a little less than two hours before trying it. Maybe it didn't need that long but that's when I remembered to check it.

The musty taste, which was faint to begin with, has dissipated by, say, 98%. In fact, I'm not even sure if I'm really tasting that left over two percent or if I'm imagining it. Anyway, decanting made a big difference and, as far as I'm concerned, the port is drinkable now. And, I'm assuming, it should be finished off in the next day or two at most.

I also used this as an excuse to get a new decanter.

Thanks for all your help, Gents.

.

[Guest]

I clean my glasses by washing in mild soap, rinse in running water, air dry, than i use an microfibre cloth to polish the glasses.