How to Spot a Bad Bottle: A Texas Wine Expert Explains Common Wine Faults
Grapevine, Texas – September 16, 2026 -- A musty, sharp, or oddly muted glass of wine may not be a matter of taste but a sign of an actual flaw in the bottle. Bob Landon, known as "Mr. Wine of Texas" and affiliated with Landon Winery and Red Dirt Cellars, breaks down the most common wine faults so drinkers can tell a flawed bottle from simple personal preference.
Cork taint leaves a musty, wet-cardboard smell that never improves
The compound TCA, which affects natural cork, is the most familiar wine fault. It produces an aroma similar to a damp basement, suppressing fruit and leaving the wine feeling flat. Landon notes that once this scent appears, it typically does not fade with time in the glass, even though the wine remains safe to drink.