Dumb Question: Why on a few UNOPENED wines can I smell something?

I've noticed in a couple of cases during winery visits when I get home, that I can smell wine through an unopened, tin foil sealed cap. Is this bottle doomed?

I think you're just that good, Brian.

Sadly, I don't have that good a nose. But, I was worried that the corks are bad or something.

I would say a very small percentage of corks (and screwcaps) are indeed faulty at the time they are used to cap the bottle. But you must be very unlucky if you see very many of them. And yes, I would say that a leaker does not have a very long life ahead of it. Tell the winery and get a replacement bottle. They will probably appreciate knowing that there may be something wrong with their bottling line.

Since you purchased them at the winery, the wines could have been bottled shortly before you purchased them, so it's conceivable aromas from the bottling could be trapped under the capsule and have not dissapated yet. Try storing the bottle outside of their original case for a week or so.

I understand there's quite often spillage from the bottling line (before the labels are put on - hence no staining of labels). I've had many wines where there's been all kinds of subsequent mould etc. on the top of the cork and they've been fine (you might want to wipe the neck clean before pouring though).
On it's own it doesn't necessarily mean a problem, but if there's leakage from the bottles being laid on their side or the levels are suspiciously low, then there is problem.

...and yes, you've probably got an acute sense of smell (you weren't a golden retriever in a previous life were you?).
regards
Ian

It was bottled over a year ago, and the person at the winery suggested I bring it back just in case. It's a drive I can almost do during my lunch hour, so....

(Plus, I love the mountain road between Fairfield and Napa-I love my little Subaru...so it's not a hardship at all to drive over there.)