Friday Rant

[James Roscoe]

Hoke, Herpes is probably a bad analogy as the only absolute cure is abstinence and who wants THAT!

Seriously though, what are the solutions for a person in my position? I buy screw cap closures when I can. I am not going to go the boycott route as that is too much like abstinence, and I find that to be a somewhat simplistic response in just about every circumstance. (I would have made a horrible revolutionary back in the day.)

Hoke, Herpes is probably a bad analogy as the only absolute cure is abstinence and who wants THAT!

Seriously though, what are the solutions for a person in my position? I buy screw cap closures when I can. I am not going to go the boycott route as that is too much like abstinence, and I find that to be a somewhat simplistic response in just about every circumstance. (I would have made a horrible revolutionary back in the day.)

Nowhere did I ever suggest boycotts, James.

David has drawn his line, and that's cool. But I still purchase wine under cork...simple, really: because there is still a great deal of wine I want to drink that is bottled under cork. And I'm a Baby Boomer: god forbid I should deprive myself of anything! Given a choice, though, I will pick alternative over cork everytime.

I'm an advocate of screwcap---actually, that's not correct. I am an advocate of any closure that works properly, and will always select the closure that best does the job it is designed for. (And cork doesn't even come close.) If that's screwcaps, which I believe is currently the best, that's what I will support. But come up with a better closure and I'll walk away from screwcaps without any hesitation whatsoever.

That's because, for me, it's not about the type of closure: it's about the wine.

[James Roscoe]

I apologize if I suggested you advocated boycotts. I was referring to others. I actually understand that point of view, I just disagree with it.

I think we are in complete agreement (about this issue anyway). Except I guess I am not as exposed to the problem as I am not in the business, nor at your level of fine wine. I guess the answer is to support the proper closure, which seems to be screw caps at the moment, and take our chances with cork when we the need arises.

[Robin Garr]

Where is Tim? He could have turned this into a really fun thread!

That did become one of the nastier threads that I can remember. In fairness, I do think that Tim changed his approach and turned into a pretty solid forum citizen.

It didn't last. Tim is, um, no longer a member of this forum.

[James Roscoe]

Where is Tim? He could have turned this into a really fun thread!

That did become one of the nastier threads that I can remember. In fairness, I do think that Tim changed his approach and turned into a pretty solid forum citizen.

It didn't last. Tim is, um, no longer a member of this forum.

Could we let him back on to join this discussion? It would be soooo much fun to see Hoke make an a## out of him again. (Yes, I would have liked the gladiatorial games too. It seems I have a thing for blood sports.)

Scoff as you will, ye heathens. I actually do have a small collection of Egyptian, Roman and Etruscan amphorae and rhytons. I will, however, admit that I do not use them for wine. Methinks I would prefer the slipper of a young princess.

As to the ravages of age, I can assure you that those "one step at a time" phenomena are coming more and more slowly. New Zealand whites, peut-etre. Les Forts, non, no et double-non.

One question for Hoke and that in full seriousness. How would you react if Chateaux Margaux, Latour and Lafite as well as the DoOmaine de la Romanee-Conti, Krug, and Vega Sicilia were to announce that starting with the 2008 vintage all of their wines would be sealed under screwcap or crown cap?

No fear though. I am smiling despite the fact that one of the bottles I opened this evening was fully, thoroughly and stinkingly corked.

Best
Rogov

[David M. Bueker]

One question for Hoke and that in full seriousness. How would you react if Chateaux Margaux, Latour and Lafite as well as the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Krug, and Vega Sicilia were to announce that starting with the 2008 vintage all of their wines would be sealed under screwcap or crown cap?

I'm not Hoke, but I would be a buyer if I could afford them.

My worst nightmare is of one day dining at Alain Ducasse in Monte Carlo, having the sommelier come to the table with a bottle of my Chateau Petrus, offering me the label to inspect, and then opening with a swift turn of his/her wrist. At that moment I shall indeed pull out my Marine Corps issue 45 caliber pistol, shoot him and then put the next bullet into my own head.

"Uh, waiter... since it looks like Mr. Rogov will not be drinking that bottle of Chateau Petrus could you please pass it this way? And leave it on his bill please. I'm certain his estate will see that it's taken care of."

One question for Hoke and that in full seriousness. How would you react if Chateaux Margaux, Latour and Lafite as well as the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Krug, and Vega Sicilia were to announce that starting with the 2008 vintage all of their wines would be sealed under screwcap or crown cap?

I'm not Hoke, but I would be a buyer if I could afford them.

Me too.

I would even gamble that, by the time they come round to peak drinking, such wines under screwcap will be worth more than the equivalent sealed by cork.

[David M. Bueker]

For the folks who will not accept screw caps on fine red wine I have a true story from tonight's dinner: not one but two corked bottles of 2003 Leoville Barton. The third bottle was not corked but really didn't taste good after two corked ones.

Corks are an anachronism.

For the folks who will not accept screw caps on fine red wine I have a true story from tonight's dinner: not one but two corked bottles of 2003 Leoville Barton. The third bottle was not corked but really didn't taste good after two corked ones.

Yikes, I have 11 left from a case bought en primeur... The first was fine, though.

[David M. Bueker]

Yikes, I have 11 left from a case bought en primeur... The first was fine, though.

I hope some day you will have pity on me, as I am down to 0.

One question for Hoke and that in full seriousness. How would you react if Chateaux Margaux, Latour and Lafite as well as the DoOmaine de la Romanee-Conti, Krug, and Vega Sicilia were to announce that starting with the 2008 vintage all of their wines would be sealed under screwcap or crown cap?

Applause, Daniel, applause.

Then I'd burst into tears, having realized that I can't afford a single one of those wines and I would wish to drink them all.

And since you asked for serious, here's serious: I would be quite pleased. I firmly believe that currently the best possible available closure for wine, whether young white or well-aged red, is the screwcap. I'll go even further: the effect of the screwcap would enable fine wine collectors to age their wines to a far greater extent than ever before, allowing tremendous complexities and nuances to emerge in the wine, without fear of spoiling through oxidation or being foully tainted from cork.

What a joy for any wine lover to envision.

The solution is quite in sight. China is planting literally hundreds of thousands of acres of cork trees and the law is quite strict - no peeling until the tree attains its 30th year and after that only every 17 years. And in China when you cheat you're in deep doo-doo.

Not sure if you've veered back off into humor here, Daniel, but this bit did come after you said "On a more fully serious note." You can't really be serious. Even if it is true that China is planting vast cork forests, and looking past 30 years as being "quite in sight," would you really trust something you put into your mouth to the Chinese regulatory system? If so, I've got a few jeroboams of '29 Petrus you might be interested in...

And count me with those that would buy DRC or First Growths (if I could afford them) with screwcap closures.