Its my first year making red wine and I recently sampled some syrah I made from fresh grapes grown in the Central Valley of California out of my 1 yr. old American oak barrel. I thought it smelled fine but my pregnant wife said it smelled like wet dog. It tasted fine to me...a lot like other "young" wines I have tasted. It has been in the barrel since 12/31 when it was also sulfited for the first time. I have 7.5 gallons that are still in glass and have not been sulfited or been in any cooperage. My next thought would be to taste each separately and try to determine differences. Ideas? Am I too worried about brettanomyces?
Thanks, Joe