Alcoholic Wine?

[lizardbrains]

Thanks for the quick advice. :-) You helped me feel more confident in the actions I chose to take.

I brought the bottle back to the winery, and told the cashier that the wine tasted "wrong". She looked surprised and said "Let me have you talk with our winemaker."

He came over, and I apologized for bothering him but that I thought something was wrong with my bottle of wine. He said I wasn't bothering him at all, and he would love to help me. He said it's probably corked if it tastes "wrong" (though I really didn't think it was). He poured some in a glass, swirled, and sniffed, swirled, and sniffed... then said "Oh. You don't like big reds?!"

Hmph. I told him I actually do appreciate hearty red wines, but that this one had such an astringent taste of alcohol I couldn't even swallow it. I told him that I tried again the next night, and even let it breathe for an hour or more before trying it again, and yet still more of the same.

He said that that's just how their cab. sauv. is - "a big strapping cab." He said he would be glad to let me exchange the bottle for something else (that was what I was hoping for, either that or my money back). Since it was a $27 bottle, I didn't want to exchange it for some of their lesser-priced wines ($17 range), so I asked if I could exchange it for their $38 port and pay the difference (I've had that one, and it's good - so long as I remind myself to sip and only drink the tiniest amount, not a whole glassful). Their computer couldn't charge me for just a certain amount, it had to be a specific item in their inventory, so... he just said to go ahead and take it, it was no problem.

That was very nice of him. Though I am surprised he thinks that cab tasted fine, I'm glad he let me exchange it for something else.

BTW, I'm cancelling my wine membership with them. Since they're only 10 min. away, it's smarter of me to just go in and buy the ones I want when I want - I'll be much happier. :-)

Thanks for your advice! I still am interested in what you think of my tasting - not that you've tasted this specific one, but have you ever tasted a cab that tasted horribly alcoholic??

Thanks!,
Elizabeth

[This message has been edited by lizardbrains (edited 11-17-2004).]

[This message has been edited by lizardbrains (edited 11-17-2004).]