WTN: Following a wine under screwcap over a few years

Speaking of corks, rather than comparisons, I have seen it written and heard it said that it takes a pretentious person to sniff a cork, since it doesn't mean anything to do so. My wife and I have been approving wine bottles with nothing other than their corks now for some time, now. From my experience, it is most reliable; although I will not be astonished if a bottle in the future passes the cork test but turns out to have a flaw.

Covert, this practice may put you at risk of making the opposite error of rejecting a sound bottle with a TCA-tainted cork. How can that happen, you say? It's pretty rare, but TCA may be present on portions of the cork that have not come into contact with the wine, and if the wine is young enough, the molecules may not have diffused into the wine. Of course, if the TCA contaminates the neck of the bottle, the first pours may be contaminated as well. But there have been occasions were a smelly cork was followed by a sound wine.

In addition, mild TCA taint is amplified by exposure to air, so at least for me, a swirl, sniff, and sip are more likely to reveal the presence of taint. Perhaps you are just more sensitive than me, or lucky enough not to have a bottle that initially just seemed a little closed blossom with corkiness over the next 15 minutes.

So by all means sniff away, I wont think you pretentious. But confirm your impressions with a swirl, sniff, and sip of the wine. After all, your goal is do drink the wine, not eat the cork.

What I don't understand is how having a cork makes the bottle "complete".

You are not alone. It's an idea I learned from my wife. A feminine notion, really. Men like things (mostly themselves) to be right; some women like things to be complete, regardless of whether the things are right or wrong. When I learned the concept, I thought, "that is cool!" Like porn, some people know it when they see it; but it is hard to make a case for it to someone else who doesn't view it thus. It's philosophical, not a matter of reason.

So by all means sniff away, I wont think you pretentious. But confirm your impressions with a swirl, sniff, and sip of the wine. After all, your goal is do drink the wine, not eat the cork.

I agree, and, as you say, the error would more likely be a not so pleasing cork, but an okay liquid. I am just pleased that so far the cork has been a pretty reliable prognosticator for me. And when it is glorious, you can be sure. That's the most fun part.

[David M. Bueker]

What I don't understand is how having a cork makes the bottle "complete".

You are not alone. It's an idea I learned from my wife. A feminine notion, really. Men like things (mostly themselves) to be right; some women like things to be complete, regardless of whether the things are right or wrong. When I learned the concept, I thought, "that is cool!" Like porn, some people know it when they see it; but it is hard to make a case for it to someone else who doesn't view it thus. It's philosophical, not a matter of reason.

Well you're certainly dead on with your last 2 sentences. The whole thing makes no sense to me at all.

Interestingly last night was the monthly meeting of my formal tasting group. As I have mentioned in the past, the group has about half older & more traditionally-minded members and about half younger (and I use that term loosely, as I am one of the younger guys at 42) people. In the tasting was a screw capped wine (the bottles were bagged for blind tasting purposes, but not decanted so the screw top of the bottle was visible), and it not only scored very well, but also raised not a single eyebrow or comment regarding its non-traditional closure. This would never have happened 3 or 4 years ago. Things are changing, even with older, more traditional wine drinkers.

Interestingly last night was the monthly meeting of my formal tasting group. As I have mentioned in the past, the group has about half older & more traditionally-minded members and about half younger (and I use that term loosely, as I am one of the younger guys at 42) people. In the tasting was a screw capped wine (the bottles were bagged for blind tasting purposes, but not decanted so the screw top of the bottle was visible), and it not only scored very well, but also raised not a single eyebrow or comment regarding its non-traditional closure. This would never have happened 3 or 4 years ago. Things are changing, even with older, more traditional wine drinkers.

It is really not about old and young, it is truly philosophical, and many old folks are pretty simple minded and couldn't define philosophy; but some of my philosophical preferences have evolved over time and wouldn't have been possible to have when I was 30 or 40. I don't expect or even want to convert anybody else to my way of thinking. The tiny amount of ego I have left depends on being different, unique. I like to discuss controversial topics, express my opinion, and kibitz, that's all. It's not about being right.

The idea of complete includes everything, a balance of sorts; not just what is smart and good and reasonable, but also stuff that is terrible. Dionysus was complete, for example.

[David M. Bueker]

Covert,

The idea that the cork has anything to do with "completeness" is illogical at best.

Covert,

The idea that the cork has anything to do with "completeness" is illogical at best.

David, yes, that's what I said a couple of times. I guess you are telling me that you are a pretty linear guy.

Covert,

The idea that the cork has anything to do with "completeness" is illogical at best.

Actually, David, I agree with you, but passion often trumps logic.

Covert,

The idea that the cork has anything to do with "completeness" is illogical at best.

Actually, David, I agree with you, but passion often trumps logic.

Actually, Davids, I don’t think that passion is the antithesis of logic. And I think logic, even if properly applied, which is rare, is overrated. Can you not see any instance in which truth might not also trump logic? Logic can be a bit of a hobgoblin sometimes, preventing one from experiencing his history and ancestry that came before the somewhat dubious distinction of a cerebral cortex. As I bet you are well aware, fruit flies share nearly 60% of human genes. There was life before logic, and there will be life after. What I just said is a logical statement, but most people who consider themselves logical would dispute that. Wine is a great symbol for me to take my existence out of the logic tunnel, for brief periods. Obviously you need a logical head to make the money to afford great wine. Completeness for me would include this resonance.