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Weird smell - 1/10/2024 11:47:43 AM

ADemers

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So a couple of days ago I noticed a smell in my cellar like cheese. I cleaned the cooling unit still it smells. I looked for leaking bottles - none and literally smelled each bottle (500+) and still did not find the cause. Neither did I find a critter or evidence of one. Has anyone ever had a similar experience or may know what is the cause?

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RE: Weird smell - 1/10/2024 2:04:25 PM

sastewart

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Not sure of your storage situation but I have heard of animals like mice dying in between the walls.

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RE: Weird smell - 1/10/2024 2:47:15 PM

grafstrb

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sastewart

Not sure of your storage situation but I have heard of animals like mice dying in between the walls.

From personal experience, I can assure you it suuuuuuuuucks when this happens!

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RE: Weird smell - 1/10/2024 3:20:14 PM

CranBurgundy

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RE: Weird smell - 1/11/2024 6:15:15 AM

DoubleD1969

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Since mold is sometimes needed to make cheese, I am guessing some kind of mold which could be lurking behind the walls. Dead critters can also be the cause. Do you have a vapor barrier behind the dry wall? Is the dry wall moisture resistant?

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RE: Weird smell - 1/11/2024 2:20:05 PM

KPB

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I'm wondering if you are perhaps getting some sort of sewage aroma, perhaps from a leaky pipe outside the building but close to the cellar wall?

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RE: Weird smell - 1/11/2024 2:21:34 PM

KPB

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PS: I know an Alan Demers, currently living in Valois. I assume this isn't you?

Also, I should second the comment about rodents dying in the walls. Had that happen once, and indeed, it reeks (and for a very long time).

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RE: Weird smell - 1/11/2024 5:22:51 PM

davo22

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I would speculate mold somewhere. I know we get pretty worked up about mold but show me an old world wine cellar underground that doesn't have mold somewhere on the walls or ceiling, or on the bottles. Kind of comes with the territory of high humidity in closed in spaces.

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RE: Weird smell - 1/14/2024 3:23:55 AM

penguinoid

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quote:

ORIGINAL: davo22

I would speculate mold somewhere. I know we get pretty worked up about mold but show me an old world wine cellar underground that doesn't have mold somewhere on the walls or ceiling, or on the bottles. Kind of comes with the territory of high humidity in closed in spaces.

Absolutely! I've visited countless cellars in France where the walls and ceilings (and sometimes cellared bottles of wine) were covered with mould, apparently with no negative impact on the wine. I guess it may depend on the precise species of mould, of course -- some may be harmful. (I am also uncertain about the health impact of working in such a cellar longer term...)

EDIT: the obvious difference here is the presence of an off-aroma, which can't be helping the wines. I wouldn't be worried about mould per se, but I would be worried about an off-aroma -- whatever is causing it. If it's mould, then it may be a particular mould that is problematic.

< Message edited by penguinoid -- 1/14/2024 3:40:54 AM >

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RE: Weird smell - 1/15/2024 12:28:49 AM

grafstrb

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quote:

ORIGINAL: penguinoid

quote:

ORIGINAL: davo22

I would speculate mold somewhere. I know we get pretty worked up about mold but show me an old world wine cellar underground that doesn't have mold somewhere on the walls or ceiling, or on the bottles. Kind of comes with the territory of high humidity in closed in spaces.

Absolutely! I've visited countless cellars in France where the walls and ceilings (and sometimes cellared bottles of wine) were covered with mould, apparently with no negative impact on the wine. I guess it may depend on the precise species of mould, of course -- some may be harmful. (I am also uncertain about the health impact of working in such a cellar longer term...)

EDIT: the obvious difference here is the presence of an off-aroma, which can't be helping the wines. I wouldn't be worried about mould per se, but I would be worried about an off-aroma -- whatever is causing it. If it's mould, then it may be a particular mould that is problematic.

Honestly, in a house, I'd rather it be a dead critter in the walls than mold. The dead critter will dry-up and stop smelling after two or three weeks. Mold is a health hazard that must be remediated, and that tends to cost $$$$.

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Terroir is not a flavor.

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Post #: 10