"The wine taste. Smell it, sip it, do whatever you'd like but just give a happy nod to the server so they can start pouring. Some people will just stare blankly and wonder what the heck is going on. This happens way more often than you'd expect."
-Roshni Mark
"There is no need to sniff the cork, you can look to see if there is a stain from the wine going all the way up and being exposed to air (which is ultra rare) and the server should spot that and not serve it. The only other reason to outright reject a bottle is if it is corked and smells of mildew, which is often subtle. If the wine is not to your taste, say that. Depending on the management, you may be able to send it back and the odds are in your favor if the server or sommelier suggested it. Saying the bottle is bad when it isn’t could lead to a sommelier or manager sitting down to taste it and if you’re wrong and the bottle is expensive that could get awkward."
-Anonymous