wine gone bad

[Doug Holdsworth]

I recently purchased a bottle of Stag's Leap Chardonay. In the restaurant where I work, this is the premium chardonay we offer by the glass. Although featured in our restaurant, I've never tasted it. I bought a bottle and it seemed to taste funny to me. I'm not a wine expert, so I have trouble identifying a bottle of wine that has gone bad. I can tell, however, a rotten cork. And this wasn't the case here. Does this chardonay just taste that much different? Or was it really spoiled? Either way, I'm reluctant now to purchase another bottle in the case that it may happen again. Any advice?

[Thomas]

First piece of advice is actually for your boss in the restaurant: let the staff taste and know the wines offered in the restaurant so that they can do a great job selling them. You might want to make a suggestion along that line.

Re the wine: you shall have to describe its taste for anyone to offer a reasonable opinion. Words like bad or spoiled can be subjective.

[Randy Caparoso]

Tough one, Doug. Since neither you nor we know what a "good" bottle of Stag's Leap Chardonnay tastes to you, it's impossible for us to say. The bottle could have been god-awful, or it could be that you just don't like Stag's Leap Chardonnay.

Exactly what did the wine smell and taste like? It should have had the aroma of apples, cream and vanilla. What did it taste like? It should have been quite dry (no perceptive sweetness), yet lush in flavor, mouth-filling, slightly viscous in texture, with a low key lemon/citrus tartness.

If it kind of tasted like that, for your own pleasure I suggest that you explore other types of wine. Like an easy, fruity, slightly sweet and fragrant German Riesling. Or a dry, yet lighter (than a Chardonnay), fresh, crisp Fume Blanc from California, or Pinot Grigio or Soave from Italy. In other words, try some other things (preferably moderately priced, since you're experimenting) until you hit upon something that appeals to you.