Mouldy

mouldy, pejorative tasting term used for wine spoiled by the growth of minute fungi on grapes or winery equipment. Many different types of mould grow on grapes in the vineyard, depending on region and vintage conditions but rot is the most common. For more details, see fungal diseases.

Mouldy cooperage can also cause this sort of aroma. Empty barrels are difficult to keep clean and free of mould because the humid conditions inside them are ideal for the growth of these organisms. Once spores of mould become embedded in the pores of a wooden vessel, it is almost impossible to remove them completely. See barrel maintenance. The word mouldy, along with musty, is also used to describe a wine that is affected by cork taint.