Paris, 1990 - a small and relatively inexpensive place, just a block or two
back from the Champs-Elysées.

Dining alone, I ordered (using my very best Nouvelle-Zélande français) "Je
voudrais le pichet de vin rouge, sil vous plait"

When my small carafe arrived, I did not need to get it anywhere near my
nose - it was horribly corked (and oxidised)

"Monsieur, ce vin est 'corked'

What I gathered from the reply was "you are a foreigner - you know nothing
about French wine"

"Non, non, c'est pas bon" (Waiter starts to walk away!)

Angry Kiwi stands, in *very* loud voice...... "Monsieur, ce vin est merde"

Shock horror - and a new carafe of very acceptable wine duly arrives
"Merci beaucoup!"

From adjacent table (to me - in English) "Sir, can you try this wine?"
(Response - Merde!)

And then again, from two other tables (both times addressing me in French) -
more Merde!

In each case, when challenged, the restaurant replaced the offending and
offensive "wine".

My meal and wine were paid for, by the English couple.

Merci beaucoup!