The Auswine Forum

I just wanted to post in acknowledgement of a great interaction with Wynns/TWE recently.

I opened a John Riddoch '99 at home and my wife and I both found it to be lacking any aroma and very short. There was no noticeable TCA, but it was clearly not a sound wine. It was the fourth from a six pack so I know the wine reasonably well.

I contacted Wynns via their website and received a phone call to discuss. They agreed that it sounded like probably low level cork taint, and sent out a pack for me to return the wine to them. I sent the wine back, received a phone call maybe a week or so later confirming the presence of TCA at 1.3ppt (extremely low, but there), and confirming that a current vintage would be sent as replacement. Soon after I received a bottle of John Riddoch '09, and a bottle of black label '10 thrown in too.

The process could not have been more professional and the outcome was excellent. Great job Wynns/TWE!

Thanks for your post Mark As. It's prompted me to ping them an email tonight re a dud bottle of the 1991 Centenary Cab-Shiraz. I'll keep you updated.

Cheers, Travis.

I also recently had a good experience with WCE - see my post in the screwcap thread.

My damaged John Riddoch was happily exchanged with no questions asked - for all they knew it could easily have been damaged by me (it wasn't).

Consumers tend to be quick to stick the boot into companies when things don't go their way (coming from a Telstra employee), so it's always nice to be able to celebrate the good experiences.

Thanks all!

YAY, my team!!

Just to add another positive experience from TWE thanks to Sparky .

On NYE to celebrate we opened a bottle 1992 Penfolds Grange with friends to find it seriously corked, so much so that it was "nil in mouth" type territory. Moira arranged for a styrofoam box to be sent to our house. We duly sent the box back to TWE and a week later got a confirmation from Moira that it was mega corked 56ppt TCA - sensory level is 2-5ppt!!! A replacement 2008 Grange is being sent out when the weather cools. Much appreciate the feedback, professionalism and service from TWE and particularly our own Sparky!!

cheers

paul

PaulV wrote:Just to add another positive experience from TWE thanks to Sparky .

On NYE to celebrate we opened a bottle 1992 Penfolds Grange with friends to find it seriously corked, so much so that it was "nil in mouth" type territory. Moira arranged for a styrofoam box to be sent to our house. We duly sent the box back to TWE and a week later got a confirmation from Moira that it was mega corked 56ppt TCA - sensory level is 2-5ppt!!! A replacement 2008 Grange is being sent out when the weather cools. Much appreciate the feedback, professionalism and service from TWE and particularly our own Sparky!!

cheers

paul

Gee, I have often said I have a palate like a horses arse...thought the aroma was dull...wifey suggested wine was well off....sent said bottle to Moira last year...only 74ppt TCA. Replacements were appreciated.

Cheers
Craig.

phillisc wrote:

PaulV wrote:Just to add another positive experience from TWE thanks to Sparky .

On NYE to celebrate we opened a bottle 1992 Penfolds Grange with friends to find it seriously corked, so much so that it was "nil in mouth" type territory. Moira arranged for a styrofoam box to be sent to our house. We duly sent the box back to TWE and a week later got a confirmation from Moira that it was mega corked 56ppt TCA - sensory level is 2-5ppt!!! A replacement 2008 Grange is being sent out when the weather cools. Much appreciate the feedback, professionalism and service from TWE and particularly our own Sparky!!

cheers

paul

Gee, I have often said I have a palate like a horses arse...thought the aroma was dull...wifey suggested wine was well off....sent said bottle to Moira last year...only 74ppt TCA. Replacements were appreciated.

Cheers
Craig.

Lucky so and so. Would love to be that insensitive!

cheers

Carl

Another big thumbs-up and "thank you" to Moira come from us as well.

We opened our first bottle of Wynn's Centenary Cab-Shiraz 1991 last year, with a certain Mr Carrington, to help him sooth his Pommy cricketing sorrows, only to find it... bland, dull, nothing in there at all. Having read the rave reviews we thought it a bit sus and contacted Moira. *Shazam* and Moira had it all sorted. 2.8 on the Richter Scale explained the stripped out fruit. Many thanks for your service Moira and your kind offers... but please hold them until this heat has sodded off!

Cheers, Travis.

PaulV wrote:Just to add another positive experience from TWE thanks to Sparky .

On NYE to celebrate we opened a bottle 1992 Penfolds Grange with friends to find it seriously corked, so much so that it was "nil in mouth" type territory. Moira arranged for a styrofoam box to be sent to our house. We duly sent the box back to TWE and a week later got a confirmation from Moira that it was mega corked 56ppt TCA - sensory level is 2-5ppt!!! A replacement 2008 Grange is being sent out when the weather cools. Much appreciate the feedback, professionalism and service from TWE and particularly our own Sparky!!

cheers

paul

I wonder if the batch of corks used for the 1992 Grange were questionable as we also had an experience with a 1992 Grange while in London. Took it to a restaurant in London for our 11th wedding anniversary and the sommelier upon opening said that the wine was corked. Fortunately I had a back-up 1999 Grange which was fantastic. Called TWE in London the next day and they organised to take the bottle to have tested - I think they sent it all the way back to OZ in the end! Anyway, they confirmed it was corked and replaced the bottle ... unfortunately with the 2005 vintage. Would have preferred the 2008 ...

Andrew Jordan » Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:14 pm

I wonder if the batch of corks used for the 1992 Grange were questionable as we also had an experience with a 1992 Grange while in London. Took it to a restaurant in London for our 11th wedding anniversary and the sommelier upon opening said that the wine was corked. Fortunately I had a back-up 1999 Grange which was fantastic. Called TWE in London the next day and they organised to take the bottle to have tested - I think they sent it all the way back to OZ in the end! Anyway, they confirmed it was corked and replaced the bottle ... unfortunately with the 2005 vintage. Would have preferred the 2008 ..

Andrew, be thankful for the 2005 (nice wine by the way) or anything at all. I have had several instances of Premium German Auslese (and levels above) being refused replacement as the importer cannot get a refund from the supplier. Same goes with some Growth Bx. Some wholesalers refuse replacement as they get no replacements or credits from their suppliers as the suppliers refuse to believe TCA exists in their product despite independent analysis.
Other wholesalers are brilliant.

Credit where credit is due. thanks Sparky for your, and the teams, efforts.

cheers
phill

Another shoutout for ongoing great service from Moira (sparky) and the TWE/Penfolds team.

Had a corked bottle of St Henri 1998 back in June at an offline. After contacting them, TWE sent out a prepaid cardboard return bottle shipper and following testing, (which I assume confirmed TCA) I received a nice replacement in the form of a St Henri 2010 yesterday, along with a bonus bottle of Bin 138 2012. Lovely.

Thanks Moira!

TiggerK wrote:Another shoutout for ongoing great service from Moira (sparky) and the TWE/Penfolds team.

Had a corked bottle of St Henri 1998 back in June at an offline. After contacting them, TWE sent out a prepaid cardboard return bottle shipper and following testing, (which I assume confirmed TCA) I received a nice replacement in the form of a St Henri 2010 yesterday, along with a bonus bottle of Bin 138 2012. Lovely.

Thanks Moira!

I read that as thanks Moira for not replacing it with the 2011!

rens wrote:

TiggerK wrote:Another shoutout for ongoing great service from Moira (sparky) and the TWE/Penfolds team.

Had a corked bottle of St Henri 1998 back in June at an offline. After contacting them, TWE sent out a prepaid cardboard return bottle shipper and following testing, (which I assume confirmed TCA) I received a nice replacement in the form of a St Henri 2010 yesterday, along with a bonus bottle of Bin 138 2012. Lovely.

Thanks Moira!

I read that as thanks Moira for not replacing it with the 2011!

Yep. The 2010 was a nice touch, good vintage for good vintage. I looked nervously at the year through the wrapping paper upon arrival..... 2010, Yes!

out bloody standing

Damn, I wish I knew they replaced them. I opened a 96 St Henri last month and it was badly corked. Tipped it down the sink. I originally bought 6. The first 4 were incredible. Unfortunately I only have 1 left. I was a bit scared to open it after the last one but you guys have given me a little more confidence on the next special occasion.

Cheers

TiggerK wrote:

rens wrote:

TiggerK wrote:Another shoutout for ongoing great service from Moira (sparky) and the TWE/Penfolds team.

Had a corked bottle of St Henri 1998 back in June at an offline. After contacting them, TWE sent out a prepaid cardboard return bottle shipper and following testing, (which I assume confirmed TCA) I received a nice replacement in the form of a St Henri 2010 yesterday, along with a bonus bottle of Bin 138 2012. Lovely.

Thanks Moira!

I read that as thanks Moira for not replacing it with the 2011!

Yep. The 2010 was a nice touch, good vintage for good vintage. I looked nervously at the year through the wrapping paper upon arrival..... 2010, Yes!

I stocked up...