Be careful! I have been shopping here for many years - the selection downstairs is amazing and deep. But, staying in Florence for more than a month at a time, and buying many dozens of bottles will eventually garner you a corked bottle or two. No big deal - usually you can take back a bottle to any reputable wine shop you frequent, with a receipt, and exchange a bottle. You are a welcome customer here until you return with a bottle that is corked. I know that the enoteca serves mostly tourists. Many buy bottles that they ship home. But as I stay here in Florence, the bottles are consumed within a few days.
I prefer bigger wines, but I drink all over the price spectrum. Chianti Classico Riserva through Monte Soldi, Mormoreto, Brunello di Montalcino to Amarone. I am familiar with vintners who use processes different than the typical will produce wines with a flavor atypical to the varietal. I will also admit to hyperosmia - a condition that gives me super sensitive sense of smell. While this is no blessing when walking thru the underpasses in canals in Venice where dogs and men alike have been relieving themselves for centuries, it is a supreme and wonderful advantage when tasing or smelling wine. Normally.
I bought a bottle of Chianti Classico Reserva here - one of dozens I've purchased there this month, and was disappointed to find the bottle corked. I aerated the bottle and used larger glasses, gave it an hour to blow off, and still - the nasty smell of corked wine filled my nose with the slightest sniff. Not only could I not tolerate the smell, my partner, who has an atrocious lack of sense of smell, could also tell it was "off," and couldn't drink it.
It's said that out of every ten bottles of wine, one will be corked. Although this has not been my normal experience, it's also said that only ten percent of corked wines are ever returned. I have very rarely needed to return wine for this reason, despite drinking it every night with dinner.
My bad experience began when I returned this bottle of wine. With the receipt which clearly showed many more bottles of more expensive wine, I returned to the shop. The bottle was handed off to the man working in the enoteca. He poured out a glass, swirled, and sniffed. I waited to see the revulsion on his face, but instead, he repeated the gesture twice. I assure you, it only takes one sniff to know a wine is corked.
I said, "fa schifo, no?" (Basically, it's bad, eh?) and he shrugged. "No. But I will replace it." I have to admit, I was incredulous. I knew immediately that his sense of smell - and his craft at salesmanship - was impaired. If you think someone is stupid but you are going to replace it anyway, why bother to tell them it's not corked?
I selected a different varietal from a different vintner and proceeded to the check out. I was clearly upset. He came to the register for some other reason and I asked him, "Did you drink it?" He said, "To me, it's not corked." Anyone who is serious about wine knows this is not subjective. It's either corked or its not corked. It's not a matter of taste, it's a matter of TCA, or taint.
I maintain that if you don't have the nose to tell if a wine is corked, it's rude to tell someone it's not corked "to you." Next time you get pulled over for running a red light, try telling the officer that the light was not red "to you."
I'm upset because I've spent literally thousands of dollars here over the years and this is the first year I've had to return any wine. I don't like to be treated like I don't know how to evaluate wine by someone who can't tell if a wine is corked, and doesn't know it's not a matter of personal consideration.
I've still given them three stars because the shop is a nice one, the wines are mostly great. They definitely need to consider a course in customer service. I feel sorry for anyone who buys here and ships things home. What will you do if the wine is corked after you get it home? If they can't even tell when it's right in front of them, will you get your money back? Verrazzano is right around the corner. So is Frescobaldi. I'm not saying their wines are never corked, but they wouldn't be so rude as to tell you taint is a matter of opinion. read more