More anti-cork views 10 July 2006

From Dave Ingram:
Until very recently I have had few cork problems, but now at least monthly I have a problem. I know that there are issues with getting screwcaps right, but a wine that comes with a screwcap is invariably fruity and fresh.

Maybe some of our older tastes and flavours have actually been introduced by cork. Take Chateau Libertas – when young it is fruity but 6 years later (I had a 2000 on Saturday) it has matured  into a  
really enjoyable wine.

A week ago I noticed a slightly  leaking cork in cellar, so I opened the Stellenbsoch Hills 2001 Shiraz.
It was vinegar, I tried to drink it, but gave up. Opened another bottle; I will not try and drink vinegar again, even if it means more cooking wine. I say roll on Stelvin.

... good old (screwcapped) Kanonkop 11 July 2006

From retailer John Ford:
A customer of ours, John Allen, chair of the Calvados Society, gourmet etc. was an early visitor to Bruce Robertson's new Showroom restaurant. He took an old bottle with him, which he judged to be suited to the occasion: a 1983 Kanonkop Paul Sauer, experimentally bottled and given to him by Beyers Truter, with an old 'sherry-style' screwcap. He took some 'reserves'  along, just in case the Kanonkop wasn't up to the occasion. No need. He says that he has never had a better bottle. After 23 years (OK, probably 21 or so in bottle) it had lost none of its fruit and was absolutely brilliant. Why do we persist with the traditional, potentially disastrous piece of bark in the necks of our bottles?