Corks breaking whilst being removed
This seems to be the best place to ask for advice on a problem encountered recently.
It concerns wine corks breaking up whilst they are being removed from the bottle. What has happened on three occasions now is the cork will break up, or snap, part-way from being removed from the bottle. A portion of the cork is left behind and the only way it can be removed is to reapply the corkscrew, requiring a complete breach of the cork and thus decanting of the wine.
Examination of the end of the cork shows that it was fully 'wetted' and the cork had provided an air-tight seal to the wine. However it seems the bulk of the cork itself has dried out, making it less 'spongey' and more brittle, yet the corks have not shrunk and the wine itself has not been "corked".
All the three bottles were 2006 vintage, though this is probably coincidental, and all were stored horizontally.
The corkscrew I usually use is a hollow screw 'sommelier' lever-style type, though if I find the removal of the cork to be being stubborn, I will use a closed screw two-handle jack-style type. I never screw the corkscrew in too far, so as to breach the cork, nor do I only screw it in part way: to do so is a guarantee of either the cork breaking in half or the corkscrew pulling out leaving a partly removed cork still in the bottle.
I suspect it is entirely coincidental that three bottles in a row have displayed this problem, and that all were bottled in the same year.
Any comments anyone?
Serious wine bargain in Lidl - HURRY WHILE STOCKS LAST!
Guys,
If you're looking for a lovely light and fruity red wine to quaff with some supper, then look no further than Lidl's superb 2010 La Cytelle Pays d'Oc, at £4.00 for a 1 litre bottle! :eek:
13%vol, so not 'watery' in the slightest, but neither is it in any way 'heavy going', in the way of some wines, from the likes of Bordeaux. This slips down very nicely, silky smooth, with no 'edge' or overtly acidic finish on the palate - perfect with some pasta, salads or light meats.
Make no mistake, this is high-quality genuine French table wine at its best, so run along now and empty the shelves of your local Lidl, or be a daftee forever!! :D
Marco.
2010 Château Fleur la Mothe - Médoc
Hi Marco
Laithwaites, £14 a bottle (£168 for a case of 12)
Gold medal winner: Concours des Grand Vins de France Macon, 2012.
Silver medal winner: Concours Modial de Bruxelles, 2012.
Care to share a case with me?