It will smell off, which can be subtle, I would describe it as musty or maybe wet cardboard. I;ve heard some people describe it as wet dog.

The taste is when it really hits you. In my experience it will leave a bitter aftertaste on the back of the tounge.

Think wet newspaper or if you ever knew anyone in the corps, what their uniform smells like if they got caught in the rain.

Another tell that I have gotten is if the aroma is weaker than you'd expect and the fruit flavor just isn't there.

I'll have to open one soon now, just out of curiosity.

Rocketman84 said:

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ATL Aggie said:

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Opened a corked bottle of 2013 Cain Five tonight.

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That sucks, I got an email recently from Last Bottle about one of those "mystery" bottles I purchased some months ago. They wanted to sell me more of them, so I ordered a couple more. Haven't opened the original, and now, I may be stuck with more bad bottles.

I really haven't run across a bad wine bottle before. What is the best indication of one that has gone bad? Is it pretty subtle, or massive vinegar? I enjoy occasional wine, but I am no expert.

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Yeah, this happened to me recently and I asked the same question. We could tell just from the aroma when the bottle was opened, but I didn't say anything at first.

I recently had a bottle shipped to me that was heat-tainted. The telltale sign was the cork protruding from the top, like a mushroom. It had a really funky taste. I bought it from wine.com .... they credited me the cost.

EclipseAg said:

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Rocketman84 said:

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ATL Aggie said:

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Opened a corked bottle of 2013 Cain Five tonight.

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That sucks, I got an email recently from Last Bottle about one of those "mystery" bottles I purchased some months ago. They wanted to sell me more of them, so I ordered a couple more. Haven't opened the original, and now, I may be stuck with more bad bottles.

I really haven't run across a bad wine bottle before. What is the best indication of one that has gone bad? Is it pretty subtle, or massive vinegar? I enjoy occasional wine, but I am no expert.

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Yeah, this happened to me recently and I asked the same question. We could tell just from the aroma when the bottle was opened, but I didn't say anything at first.

I recently had a bottle shipped to me that was heat-tainted. The telltale sign was the cork protruding from the top, like a mushroom. It had a really funky taste. I bought it from wine.com .... they credited me the cost.

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The two bottles I bought recently, I bought the cool pack and had them held at a UPS drop location due to summer heat. Hoping they don't spend any significant time in a hot delivery truck.

I opened a Last Bottle 2013 Cain Five a few weeks ago and it was great. Hoping that was a one-off for you.

Had a good HH and dinner
after

We loved this place. It's owned by a guy who makes metal accessories to go on high end fashion brands. It's his passion project/place to host customers. It's beautiful and loved their wines.

Colle Bereto Winery - Classic Chianti Wine

We also went to Casa Emma. It's more down the middle but enjoyed it as well.

ATL Aggie said:

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Opened a corked bottle of 2013 Cain Five tonight.

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Drank a 2013 purchased via Last Bottle in late June, was excellent.

Casralina in Chianti

Thanks so much!

One thing I will say about the Cain. It is not in line with what one might consider to be a typical Napa red wine. The style of it is definitely hit or miss for people, as it's a bit more rustic and less fruity.

If you don't like it initially (and it's just personal preference and truly isn't corked), let it sit open for a while a revisit it. Or, even revisit it the next day. I've had some earthier cabs that I preferred on days 2 and even 3 over what they're like the day I open them. If it's truly corked, all bets are off at that point though!

All the Cain talk makes this a fitting Friday night bottle. Very nice wine. Definitely on the iron/iodine side of red wines. But it is not overbearing at all in that regard. Not much fruit, the other characteristics are more present. Savory.

Another wine question for the experts.

When you are buying a bottle as a gift for someone who likes wine but only buys cheap stuff (i.e. Josh, Cupcake), do you:

1) Get them what they usually drink even though you know they know it's inexpensive?
2) Pick something you like in a moderate price range, like a Frog's Leap merlot or a Trefethen cab?
3) Get them a really nice bottle that you know is special but they would have no clue?

This is something I've struggled with recently. I've been going with "B" but wondered what other folks do.

For gifts, I always get people something that wouldn't normally buy. So like a step above what they normally drink. Everyone I know in life has what they need/want at this point, so giving them something new, or out of their ordinary zone, makes it a bit more memorable. Maybe something with a story too. For Christmas in my office, everyone gets a Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot. It's a step above what they would normally drink and I usually get a few notes from the crew at RM to pass along. And I can say something like "compared to last year's vintage, this wine…blah, blah, blah." They love it.

BSD said:

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Everyone I know in life has what they need/want at this point, so giving them something new, or out of their ordinary zone, makes it a bit more memorable. Maybe something with a story too.

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I like this ... maybe a note along with the bottle that says "We visited this winery on a recent trip and loved it, and we think you will, too."

cecil77 said:

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Casralina in Chianti

Thanks so much!

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Do you mean Castellina in Chianti? Casralina may be a real place but I couldn't find it on Google Maps.

If castellina, you should go to Tenuta Casanova, assuming you'll have a car. Great experience. Great wines. They do higher end merlot in addition to the normal Sangiovese chianti classico and riservas.

Also, totally not a fancy place but La Cantina in Greve up the road was a great spot. We just happened to stop here driving from Florence to Arrezzo (not the most direct route on purpose!). Classic small town local place where the guy taking your order is also the guy who has his face on the wine. Great local spot. Absolutely not fancy.

I'm sure you have been to Tuscany before, but if not….

Add salt to the bread! Thank me later. That's some very dry and unsalted bread.

They don't add salt to their bread in Perugia. It's a centuries old protest against the Pope.

One of the finest Chardonnays that we have ever had. Started out citrus-forward, has moved into a leaner profile with a slight flintiness to it. Excellent all around

Thanks! Yes Castallina. Here now. First time!

I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. I've got a few bottles still aging but also loved drinking them as soon as we got home. I was unsure on giving the rec because my wine taste is nothing compared to yours and others on this thread.

I ordered six each of sparkling, Ch Cl, Pinot, and Merlot. Seems your taste in wine is pretty good!

And one on one with the winemaker is always a treat

And he showed me the Pic of him with Rick Perry visiting in 2019.

This is an excellent Super Tuscan, if you want to call it that. But it is 100% Merlot, so it's definitely atypical.

Aroma: black cherry blackberry, toffee, coffee, dark chocolate
Taste: red and black cherries, mocha, sage, thyme, white pepper, leather, fennel

I wouldn't call it savory, it's more herbal and fruit driven. Would age very well I think with its tannin structure. Big tannins but smoothed out and they don't knock you out.

That's epic!

Last Bottle marathon has started for anyone interested.

Yesterday too. I got a couple I'm excited about but some moved very fast and I couldn't click fast enough.

QBCade said:

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Nice little tasting




Tasting was three of us, all had different #1. For me, it was Lafite, Margaux, Mouton.

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Incredible!

CowtownAg06 said:

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Yesterday too. I got a couple I'm excited about but some moved very fast and I couldn't click fast enough.

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Just curious what did you snag. I tried to purchase a bottle of Mayacamas and it was instantly sold out. Did pick up a bottle of Tor today

I got some Austrian Sauvignon blanc but that's it so far.