Corked: 2006 Uccelliera Brunello

[Summus]

What do you do when this happens?

Luckily, this time, I had the receipt fresh in hand as I had acquired the wine to add another 2006 data point to my blog. So I called, went straight back, the manager on duty complied easily and I exchanged the wine.

But this is a rare case. Suppose this was a 1995, or 1997, or 2001 - all vintages maturing in my cellar. I probably don't recall where I bought them all and I probably couldn't prove it. So in those cases I'd eat the cost. It kills you, especially if it's something like Solaia or Screaming Eagle.

What do you do? Do you track every purchase you make and go back even years later? Does it depend on the relationship you have with the retailer?

J

[Nebbhead9]

What do you do when this happens?

But this is a rare case. Suppose this was a 1995, or 1997, or 2001 - all vintages maturing in my cellar. I probably don't recall where I bought them all and I probably couldn't prove it. So in those cases I'd eat the cost. It kills you, especially if it's something like Solaia or Screaming Eagle.

What do you do? Do you track every purchase you make and go back even years later? Does it depend on the relationship you have with the retailer?

J

If I come across a bottle that's corked, using your example of a '95, '97 or '01 than it's just bad luck and you eat it, even if I know where I bought it. SE isn't the best example because it's a mailing list wine, so if you came across a corked bottle and contacted them about it they may replace it for you. I have heard of this accommodation from several high end/cult producers in California.

[pdnnyc]

I had a 2003 Ch. Meyney the other night that was corked and/or Bretty. Too bad so sad. Cost of playing.

[staindteeth]

I recently had a corked bottle of 2007 Joseph Phelps Insignia. I contacted the winery (even though I hadn't purchased the bottle directly from them) and they were happy to replace the bottle for me. The only thing is that you need to save the offending wine to ship back to them (they provide a shipping label).

However, when it comes to European wines, I guess you either have to eat it or bring it back to the retailer. I also recently had a corked bottle of 2001 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova and that one stung.

[Summus]

I agree that Screagle is a bad example. And I normally do consider it a cost of playing and I guess that appears to be the majority. I'm just not sure that's right.

[Nebbhead9]

This is a tough one. When it's a wine that needs time in bottle how can you go back to a retailer 10, 15 or 20 years later (assuming they're still in business) and say hey, bottle was corked, replace it. If you buy from a local shop you might get lucky and they'd credit the cost of what you paid for the bottle if you can prove you bought it there, or maybe give you a bottle of the latest vintage in the pipeline. That would probably be the best you could hope for as they would not be able to find a replacement bottle after such a long period of time. Tough pill to swallow, especially if the bottle was expensive.

[Summus]

The only thing is that you need to save the offending wine to ship back to them (they provide a shipping label).

How did you manage to pull that off? You jam the original cork all the way down in there? Seems pretty risky to ship like that.

J

[JohnnyB]

Here in Quebec they have a great return policy. If the bottle has a Quebec seal on it they will exchange it even if you bought it 3-5 years ago. This happened recently with an 2004 Flaccianello. One advantage for State/Provincial liquor monopoly.

[staindteeth]

The only thing is that you need to save the offending wine to ship back to them (they provide a shipping label).

How did you manage to pull that off? You jam the original cork all the way down in there? Seems pretty risky to ship like that.

J

Yes. I just did what they told me to do. They sent a label to ship the wine back, I jammed the cork in the bottle. Probably not much more risky than shipping wine in the first place.