Fishy Smell?

Lila,

I think what you are describing - especially with that frequency of occurence - is not the smell of the wine, but of impurities on the surface of the glass. Many glasses catch this smell from the dishwasher, even in very decent restaurants, and it can ruin any drink. I've had "fishy" water, and most of the time when a drink smells like that I refuse to drink it. I describe it precisely as a fishy smell, and it is all too common. Try sniffing your glass before pouring the wine into it. If it smells like fish, you can rinse it with vinegar, or even with wine, just be sure to coat the entire surface.

There's no doubt in my mind that Markus is correct. That's the smell of dish soap remnants in the glass. It happens all the time in restaurants, and even on occasion in my house.

I always smell the glass before the wine is poured. Once you learn to pick up this "fishy" smell you won't miss it again. I often will rinse with water and the smell goes away. Wine works too, but who wants to waste wine, particularly in a restaurant?

Wash your glasses by hand with very hot water - no soap.

Interesting. All three occasions were in my home. I wash my glasses by hand but use dish soap. I'll switch to just plain hot water from now on. And now that I think about it, it was with the first glass each time. Thanks, guys. Now I know I'm not crazy.

This happened at a tasting class with me. We were tasting White Burgandies and it smelled like curry. Pretty fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter:
Wash your glasses by hand with very hot water - no soap.

Spike it with vinegar as well.

How often do you cook/eat fish at home?

quote:

Originally posted by Mezzo Litro:
I'm sorry...I can't resist....was your girlfriend standing next to you when you noticed the smell?

I knew I had seen something else recently about fishy smell on the boards.

Berno, should I rinse with water after rinsing with vinegar? I'm assuming that's whats you mean when you say spike.

Rob: I don't eat that much fish. Maybe several times each month, and not near the times described, so I don't think there was any cross contamination occuring. Thanks for the reminder to watch for that when I do cook it though.

To all you 14 yr old's going on 20, 30, 40, or whatever: Sheesh! Grow up already. No girlfriends were involved, platonic or otherwise. Sorry to burst your bubbles.

quote:

Originally posted by Lila:
Berno, should I rinse with water after rinsing with vinegar? I'm assuming that's whats you mean when you say spike.

Hi !

mmmmh, I'm not sure vinegar is a great thing. By the way, whathever you're going to use, even a little of soap, rinse very well and rinse more then one time with hot water. Then do not dry with anytingh but the ... fresh air.
Then, another thing that's important IMHO, where do you store the glasses. The smell yo've notice is caming from the water you have, 99%, but maybe the place where you store the class even. Try keeping 'em in another place.

I hope this can help in somaway

Danilo

Air drying is great...if you enjoy water spots. Anyway, drying (and washing) glasses has been covered at length.

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
Air drying is great...if you enjoy water spots. Anyway, drying (and washing) glasses has been covered at length.

Yes, you're right. But you can dry the external surface with a cloth, then the few spots of water that will remain inside are really nothing compared any bad smell ! Or you can use a dry cloth with a dry glass to wipe away the water spots, but when the glass is dry; otherwise there's always the risk to transmit smells and/or make the internal surface not ... suitable for wines. That's of course my only opinion !

Can you tell me who is the producer to find out more information?...sure is a private label, but look who did the wine...

I am from chile!

Max Morales
wines@andeswines.com

quote:

Originally posted by Lila:
I asked this same question on another board and noone seemed to know what I was talking about. So far in 3 wines I've noticed a fishy sort of smell to it. Not a corked, musky smell, but it smells like fish. Th wines were a cheap Chilean Carmenere, Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc, and yesterday, I detected a faint trace of it in a good $30 01 California Pinot Noir. What could this smell be? Am I mistaking oak or a woody smell for a fishy smell? It was pleasing in the PN but obnozious and nasty smelling in the other two. But I like the taste of the SB not the Carmenere, just don't like the smell. Any suggestions or similar experiences?

quote:

Originally posted by Max Morales (Andes Wines):
Can you tell me who is the producer to find out more information?...sure is a private label, but look who did the wine...

I am from chile!

Max Morales
wines@andeswines.com

The Chilean wine was by ConchayToro. But I don't think it was the wine. The wine probably would've been good for the price without that smell. I haven't noticed that smell since I've stopped washing my glasses with dish soap. I also put up a drying rack so I'm sure that's helping also.

I've noticed an Ahi Tuna smell to several colder climate new world wines -- OR Pinot, generally. But I actually noticed it in the '97 Caymus SS as well.

Everyone is spot on regardig the smell originating from washing methods. About a year ago I was plagued...no matter what I did, hot water no soap/tepid water with BarKeepers soap/soak in water with a small amount of distilled white vinegar....all to no avail! Finally figured out the problem; the towels I was using had a strange odor. They were white bar towels but I was using Oxyclean in the laundry. Now I only use Planet detergent and I double rinse the laundry (no softening agents in the wash or dryer). The more I use the bar towels the better they get.
And I also do a final rinse of the glasses in distilled water. Sometimes if it is a nice day outside, after I wash the stems I just put out clean bar towels on our picnic table in the sun and let them air dry upside down 15 minutes and right-side up 15 minutes, then absolutely spotless and no odor at all.
And, have you ever noticed some paper towels have a kind of acrid smell to them, especially Bounty.
I know, way more info than you wanted on this!

quella è la mia speranza!