I collected an online order from our government monopoly retail system (the "LCBO") today, i.e., it was purchased unseen and could not be inspected until collected. Among the order was one bottle of Castello di Volpaia Riserva Chianti Classico 2016. On inspection, it has enough ullage seemingly to present some concern, but I am wondering how concerned I should be and what advice board members might have. Photos (hopefully) below.
Some considerations:
- I can return it no problem for a full refund (in a few days when the ordering system allows for this to take place);
- I bought this wine to age for a reasonable period, not to drink immediately;
- The way that the LCBO sells wines like this through their monthly online "Classics" offerings is that you are lucky to get anything at all as everything worth having sells out almost immediately. There is no more of this wine left. If I want to drink this wine, this is probably the only opportunity I will have;
- There is no sign of leakage or stains (or protruding cork) at all;
- I cannot see any holes in the foil, i.e., I don't think somebody has coravined some away;
- If this were a 20+ year old wine (for example), I would not be particularly concerned with this level of ullage, so if the cork seal is OK, perhaps ageing will still be OK(?);
- Given the lack of leakage, presumably this is a fault on the bottling line. This is surprising and makes me wonder what other problems might be evident through bottle line failure;
- As the retailer is our provincial LCBO government system, I doubt that I could negotiate a reduced price, so it will be either keep it and risk it, or return it for full price.
- It was not a "cheap" wine under the pricing in our monopoly retail system or as far as my budget goes.
I am tempted to keep it. But having said that, if it were on a shelf and I was considering buying it, I wouldn't do so. I've never tried to age a bottle that wasn't filled properly, so don't know if this much air will make any difference, although I am thinking probably not really.
Would you keep it? If so, when would you plan to drink it?
(I am aware that this is very much a first world problem!)
Thanks for any advice . . .
Some considerations:
- I can return it no problem for a full refund (in a few days when the ordering system allows for this to take place);
- I bought this wine to age for a reasonable period, not to drink immediately;
- The way that the LCBO sells wines like this through their monthly online "Classics" offerings is that you are lucky to get anything at all as everything worth having sells out almost immediately. There is no more of this wine left. If I want to drink this wine, this is probably the only opportunity I will have;
- There is no sign of leakage or stains (or protruding cork) at all;
- I cannot see any holes in the foil, i.e., I don't think somebody has coravined some away;
- If this were a 20+ year old wine (for example), I would not be particularly concerned with this level of ullage, so if the cork seal is OK, perhaps ageing will still be OK(?);
- Given the lack of leakage, presumably this is a fault on the bottling line. This is surprising and makes me wonder what other problems might be evident through bottle line failure;
- As the retailer is our provincial LCBO government system, I doubt that I could negotiate a reduced price, so it will be either keep it and risk it, or return it for full price.
- It was not a "cheap" wine under the pricing in our monopoly retail system or as far as my budget goes.
I am tempted to keep it. But having said that, if it were on a shelf and I was considering buying it, I wouldn't do so. I've never tried to age a bottle that wasn't filled properly, so don't know if this much air will make any difference, although I am thinking probably not really.
Would you keep it? If so, when would you plan to drink it?
(I am aware that this is very much a first world problem!)
Thanks for any advice . . .