corked bottle obtained from winery...return it?

I opened a bottle of Elizabeth Pinot Noir that I obtained while at Bouchaine vineyards in Napa in March 2009. The wine was corked...extremely...undrinkable.

There were 12 of us visiting in March...we bought quite a few bottles..should I call the vineyard and ask them for a replacement? I feel I should...whenever I purchase a bottle from my local WS and it's corked, I return it for a replacement no questions asked....

thoughts?

-Mike

Yes, definitely call them. It won't cost you much, they ought to benefit from the knowledge, and they might (is Connecticut a shipping state?) even be able to do something.

John

Yes...CT is a shipping state...

Call them, yes.

Also, if you still have the bottle and cork, they'll probably ask you for some information--probably provided on the label somewhere.

That will give them the precise batch, time and day of bottling, etc. That will provide them with more data which might eventually get them to dump a cork supplier, which might cause said cork supplier to clean up its act.

Thereby making you a superstar to wine drinkers everywhere!

(Seriously, this is the only way to hurt the bastards who created the problem in the first place.)

I agree with John. If they're in any way a conscientious winery, they'll be grateful to hear about the problem and willing to put it right.

When a winery sells directly to the public, they are a wine retailer, and they should be held to the same standards that would apply to any other wine retailer.

-Paul W.

Well, I poured all the wine from the glasses back into the bottle, so it's close to full...and the cork back in place...I'll call them tomorrow and see what they say...

(Seriously, this is the only way to hurt the bastards who created the problem in the first place.)

It's not necessarily the cork suppliers who are at fault here, either, though. As I understand the TCA problem, there really isn't any reliable means to detect the problem. It strikes even the most conscientious producers of both corks and wine at random. All the more reason to use alternative enclosures.

-Paul W.

I know some things are out of their control...but you have to stand by your product. Before I opened the bottle I spoke at length to our friends about where we purchased the bottle, the story behind it etc....then I opened it and the funk hit me in the face...not a good moment.

That's absolutely right.

The final producer is responsible for the product. "One of my suppliers provided me with a faulty part" isn't an excuse that should ever cut any ice with the consumer. That's a private matter between the final producer and the supplier. In the case of wine, it's the WINERY who's responsible to the consumer regarding corked wine. The winery chose the cork supplier, just as they chose the grape source, winemaking equipment, hired the staff who made the wine, etc.

-Paul W.

Hi Mike,

I had a Barolo from Scavino that I bought at their cantina. It was corked and I wrote to them. I safed the bottle and the year after I went to Italy again, I had the bottle with me ( in my car ) visited Scavino and got a new bottle

Ciao
Birger

Well, great news. The winery offered to send me a replacement bottle at no charge, however the vintage will be 2007. I offered to send back to corked bottle at my cost, and they said not necessary. I told her to make it (2) bottles and I would pay for the 2nd, she countered and said that she will pay for the shipping on both bottles......I am pleasantly surprised....a restored faith in humanity

-Mike

Mike,

Glad to hear it worked out. FWIW, I always tell people that a corked wine is really no diferent than buying a manufactured product that is defective upon opening up the box. Of course you would return the defective product to the place where it was purchased.

Just curious, but what was the vintage date of the corked wine?

Well, great news. The winery offered to send me a replacement bottle at no charge, however the vintage will be 2007. I offered to send back to corked bottle at my cost, and they said not necessary. I told her to make it (2) bottles and I would pay for the 2nd, she countered and said that she will pay for the shipping on both bottles......I am pleasantly surprised....a restored faith in humanity

-Mike

Bravo to them! This sort of response is the sign of a class act.

-Paul W.

Just curious, but what was the vintage date of the corked wine?

2005

Indeed a class act on the part of the winery. One sighs thinking "and that is the way it should be".

Best
Rogov

It never hurts to ask. Many wineries will replace a customers order at their request one time without asking any questions. The second time, some wineries will ask to see the bottle.

Very classy to get that done so quickly. I'm sure you won't hesitate to purchase there again.

Received my (2) 2007 Pinot Noirs today.....Christmas Eve fun!!

Well, great news. The winery offered to send me a replacement bottle at no charge, however the vintage will be 2007. I offered to send back to corked bottle at my cost, and they said not necessary. I told her to make it (2) bottles and I would pay for the 2nd, she countered and said that she will pay for the shipping on both bottles......I am pleasantly surprised....a restored faith in humanity

-Mike

Thanks for the update. Sounds like another class operation.

Jason

[Jenise]

Hmmm...after being treated somewhat rudely by both St. Innocent and Chateau St. Jean, I've not tried contacting wineries again re corked bottles. But I do have a corked bottle of Talley Rosemary Vineyard sitting here that WAS purchased at the winery (for around $75, not a minor consideration). I am now emboldened by Mike's success to try getting this bottle replaced. Stay tuned.

[David M. Bueker]

Jenise - I don't recall if I ever brought this up, but I am surprised at the result you got from St. Innocent. I received immediate & satisfactory results when I had a corked bottle a couple of years ago.

[Jenise]

Jenise - I don't recall if I ever brought this up, but I am surprised at the result you got from St. Innocent. I received immediate & satisfactory results when I had a corked bottle a couple of years ago.

I know--and instead I got a lecture from him about how he would never return a corked bottle. Can't understand the difference. To be fair, once I mentioned that on line he did come here to address the situation when alerted to the matter by Jason, but his attitude toward me afterward was curt, so when faced with the options of being overtly pushy or just dropping it, I dropped it. Never got replacements (I had two corked bottles).

But here's a shoutout for Talley Vineyards who cheerfully offered to send me a replacement today when I called them.

But here's a shoutout for Talley Vineyards who cheerfully offered to send me a replacement today when I called them.

That's fantastic!