I just picked up a few bottles from Zachys to drink in a couple days, but I notice that the cork on the 2005 Ch Branon is raised a millimeter or two. I usually trust Zachy’s and their storage but should I worry that there is some heat damage? I am assuming that if I open the bottle and realize that it’s a bad bottle that they won’t take it back. So in short, should I just take it back?
FWIW I wouldn’t sweat a mm or two, which could certainly have been that way from when bottled. Others may disagree.
May have Zika. Probably fine though.
I’d take it back, it’s a bad risk. 99% sure that it has seen heat… 60% chance it’s still drinking at 100% now, 25% chance it will be drinking great with further age (all %ages pulled from thin air but would bet are pretty accurate)
Is it really a mm or two? That sounds to me like equally likely to be a cork insertion issue, a non-wine-damaging (that is undetectable heat damagee, particularly if you are drinking in a few days) thermal excursion, a variation/mismatch in bottle/cork diameter, or a true incidence of noticeable heat damage. The seed of doubt is in your mind. That’s as strong as the placebo effect. If these are a really big deal to you, go back and return them. Any replacements are going to have come from the exact same chain of provenance and whether they show signs of damage or not have been through the same life experience.
Personally, I’d be completely comfortable with what you describe and wouldn’t even consider a return. I’m a pretty relaxed guy and save my anxiety for other things.
Vote cast,
fred
I must say Zachy’s has great customer service. I was told to just take a picture before I open the wine, then try it. If it’s bad, I can just bring it back no problem.
If it’s not an investment wine cut off the foil to check for seepage. All older wines I buy in the secondary market get the foil ripped for a check.
I`d take it back especially if they do not accept returns.
Catch and release