Originally Posted by
MisterNice
I actually prefer to try a sip before I buy it. About 20% of the time I decline more and ask for a different wine to sip before ordering. There are zillions of wines out there, quality varies by lot and year and it is rare to find familiar wines at many restaurants.........especially the ones I prefer.
MisterNice
the way i read this post, if you order and get a perfectly good, wine of the type, but decide it is not quite to your liking, or not quite up to the hype, you would send it back?
second, a number of cellars have been contaminated and the wines produced have a strong corked taste, regardless of how they are sealed. a number of the italians and the french had really major cellar problems back in the 60's and 70's.
third, wine storage and shipping can ruin a wine. i recall a container of mosel that was submerged on the way over to the us. did not harm the wine, but raised havoc with the labels. had another that was carried across near the boiler.
summer in usa, wine is frequently cooked on the delivery truck or in cross country transport or the container is left on the dock for a day or two.