Bad Wine

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Just opened a bottle of wine, a 'decent' bottle (c. £20, high recommended).

It was difficult to open. The cork was soft and flakey and split on the corkscrew. When I managed to get it out, the bottom of the cork look like it had been attacked by the wine, crumbled and a very dark red. The wine also smelt very unpleasant.

I'm going to return it tomorrow but I am interested in whether anyone has come across this problem and what causes it? I have never seen a cork in this state.

[sherman]

Your wine has probably been corked and the bottle has been stored on its end (for some time)so the cork will of also dried out and become flaky and crumbly. Take it back to the shop and if they are any good will replace it no questions asked.

[Mr Beaumont]

I would agree with Sherman, I have had problems with quite a few bottles of wine where the Wine obviously wasn't left standing for too long.
Recently I bought about 10 bottles of Grand Cru Chablis (It was reduced to £12.50, bargain!) in a well know supermarket, it was from a good year: 2002 and should still be drink worthy for a few more years, however half of them had a simalar problem, I am sure it was down to them being left stood up on the top shelf of a Supermarket shelf under brightlights for several weeks.

[Bebs]

Mr Beaumont said:

I would agree with Sherman, I have had problems with quite a few bottles of wine where the Wine obviously wasn't left standing for too long.
Recently I bought about 10 bottles of Grand Cru Chablis (It was reduced to £12.50, bargain!) in a well know supermarket, it was from a good year: 2002 and should still be drink worthy for a few more years, however half of them had a simalar problem, I am sure it was down to them being left stood up on the top shelf of a Supermarket shelf under brightlights for several weeks.

Surely you need some Chateau Beaumont with a tag like that? I'm drinking the 2003 and 2005 at home