What would cause a red wine to taste "fishy"?

Question

There is a particular wine I like to drink, but recently I have gotten a few bottles that have a fishy after taste. What would cause this?

Answer 1

Check your glasses. I'm not trying to say you are a bad dishwasher, but if you get a funky aroma (especially of fish) the first thing to try is a different glass. I've had it happen in restaurants where my glass was terrible and I asked my date if hers was OK. When she said it was, I realized immediately I just had a dirty glass. Rinsed in funky water or whatever. The waiter should be happy to change your glass (the alternative is to bring you another whole bottle, right?).

To check your own, just fill with a little plain water and sniff. If they are funky (it can be do to stubborn bacteria in the microscopic scratches in the glass) wash in very hot water with a shot of ammonia or white vinegar in the suds. Rinse very well in more hot water and air dry.

Answer 2

I checked into a wine chat and you're not the only one to note a fishiness to a red wine. The culprit in the chat was winemaker
Concha Y Toro, a Chilean producer. The suggested response was that the wine was corked, usually described as a wet newspaper or wet cardboard smell to the wine. I'm not sure if that's the problem, but I suggest that if others have noted the taint it may not be glass taint but. It may indeed be an interpretation of TCA taint (Corked wine). Return the wine from where you got it, most wine merchants are happy to accept returns.

Answer 3

I have no idea what causes this, but I do have advise. A key to contact info is on the bottle somewhere. Name of bottling company, vineyard, company name, etc., can be searched on the web until you track them down.

Ask them the cause,and suggest they replace the wine. I did this with one bottle of wine, and they shipped me a whole case with a very nice apology. CHEERS!

Answer 4

Never heard of a fishy aftertaste. Why kind of red wine was it? What winery, too? That might help to answer the question.

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Added: I just read vno's comments. That could easily be the culprit. High quality wine glasses are more porous than your typical glass. As such, you need to take extra care when cleaning wine glasses and rinse them very well. If possible, avoid using dish soap to clean them. (I use it anyway, but I try to rinse the glasses extremely well after wards.)

Answer 5

Bad wine.

Answer 6

The grape stompers must be getting in a little too deep...

Answer 7

fish?

Answer 8

FISH! DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!