Wine faults are unwanted characteristics caused by problems during wine-making, storage, or handling, and they interfere with how the wine should taste or smell. Common faults include cork taint (musty, damp cardboard aromas), oxidation (flat, bruised apple notes), and excessive volatile acidity (vinegar-like smells). A fault isn’t the same as a style you dislike—some wines are intentionally funky or earthy. The key question is whether the wine tastes as intended or if something has gone wrong.

Tomorrow’s Topic: Red Wine

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