Mildew on inside of cork?

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Rotawine

Rotawine
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I’m not sure if this is mildew on the inside of the cork or not? No odors and the Chardonnay tastes great but when I give away bottles I’m afraid it might freak someone out. #1) Does it look like mildew and #2) If I want to re-cork do I risk oxidation? Thanks!
 

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I’m not sure if this is mildew on the inside of the cork or not? No odors and the Chardonnay tastes great but when I give away bottles I’m afraid it might freak someone out. #1) Does it look like mildew and #2) If I want to re-cork do I risk oxidation? Thanks!
Hard to say that it’s bad. Is it an old bottle? If no bad taste or aroma, then I say let it be.
 
Mildew requires air, limited humidity and a carbon source. A cork is a carbon source but the inside of a bottle has limited air and 100% humidity. Wine also has low pH as 3.3 and SO so it is extremely unlikely that is mildew.
A quick microscopic exam would tell if there are filaments, typical morphology for molds.
A best guess is that tartaric acid has crystallized.
 
Mildew requires air, limited humidity and a carbon source. A cork is a carbon source but the inside of a bottle has limited air and 100% humidity. Wine also has low pH as 3.3 and SO so it is extremely unlikely that is mildew.
A quick microscopic exam would tell if there are filaments, typical morphology for molds.
A best guess is that tartaric acid has crystallized.
Thanks, I’ve posted this question in different venues and this is the most convincing I’ve seen. Thanks
 

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