Illinicellar
Grape Sorter
Posts:348
 | | 03/09/2004 4:12 AM |
| I'm a little unsure if this question belongs here, but I was shocked at losing two corkscrews tonight. I recently picked up a bottle of 2001 Cusumano Benuara Nero D'Avola, Syrah which I admit to knowing nothing about. I noticed that the cork seemed to have been pulled into the bottle about 1/8th of an inch or so after removing the foil. I was able to sink the corkscrew in about one turn and it became difficult to turn. I actually had my wife hold the bottom of the bottle while I tried to turn it and it physically bent my corkscrew. I then tried a second "can opener" type screw that completely bent upon trying to open the bottle. I can flake a little of the top of the cork but I can't even flake the rest of it with a knife! Has anyone ever noticed something like this? It seems hard as a rock. After tonight, I can only imagine some Sicilian winemaker have a good laugh at the guy who lost two corkscrews trying to open a gag bottle! Short of a drill and masonry bit, does anyone have any suggestions?! | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 03/09/2004 10:31 AM |
| I suppose dynamite is out of the question!  | | | |
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KillerB
Barrel Racker
Posts:1533
| | 03/09/2004 12:37 PM |
| | I'm not surprised it's scared if you keep attacking it. Obviously, like a frightened animal it's going to react badly when in danger. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 03/09/2004 12:49 PM |
| LOL. Good one KillerB.
I'd take that bottle back if at all possible. Your're already down two corkscrews. Lord only knows what would happen to you personally if you actually get it open and drink some. It might call for a trip to the ER. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10573
| | 03/09/2004 1:57 PM |
| | Illinicellar - I had that wine a couple of months ago and the cork was fine. But the wine was corked. There is some sort of weird karma at play. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 03/09/2004 4:16 PM |
| Winetex... your wine was corked. His cork was 'corked'. What next???  | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 03/09/2004 7:11 PM |
| | Try a Champagne sword. | | | |
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Illinicellar
Grape Sorter
Posts:348
| | 03/10/2004 2:32 AM |
| Dynamite...swords...yeah, yeah... this bottle took down two of my own! It's not just a cork now, it's a mission! I'll wait for dark...then....WHAM! | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts:152
| | 03/10/2004 1:37 PM |
| Wow, what a resister! Still, I've had on like these and the butlers friend did the trick. (The cork didn't cause any casualties in my bottle-opener department though.)
Have you tried a butlers friend, aka Ah-So yet? It tends to do the trick for most nasty corks I get. The thing is, you get a little air in between the cork and the glass which will make the cork easier to pull.
I think the reason it isn't moving now is that, as the cork is a bit into the bottle neck, no air moves in when you try to pull it, and it never loses its grip. | | | |
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Illinicellar
Grape Sorter
Posts:348
| | 03/11/2004 2:45 AM |
| | Thanks for the suggestion Markus. Interesting thought. I don't think I have ever seen an Ah-So opener so I looked one up on the net. I am pretty sure, as hard as this cork is, that I couldn't even push it down the sides. I swear it acts like a rock. Strangest thing I have ever seen. (At least in the world of wine!) | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 03/11/2004 10:03 AM |
| Illini... you may have to resort to using a glass cutter and cut the damn neck off of the bottle to get at whatever's inside of this beast!!!  | | | |
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Marcel
Grape Puncher
Posts:875
| | 03/11/2004 3:08 PM |
| ... and don't forget to tell us if the juice inside was worth the trouble.  | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 03/14/2004 11:23 PM |
| Wow, that is most unusual. I've never experienced that.
Get a drill and drill the cork out.
kidding...kidding | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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