Screwcaps - are they re-usable?

Ratcatcher · Post by **Ratcatcher** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:48 pm

I'm just curious about whether you can re-use a screwcapped bottle effectively once it has been opened?

ie: If I take my screwcapped 2005 St Henri to a Penfolds clinic in 30 years time will they unscrew it, test it, top it up and screw the same cap back on?

I realise that screwcaps "should" make the clinics redundant but the question I'm asking is if the screwcap is stuffed once you have undone it one time?

Another example, I open a screwcapped bottle and 2 seconds later realise I don't want to drink it after all. Can I quickly screw the lid back on and cellar for another 10 years?

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:01 pm

Something tells me 'no' for that last query. Happy to be proven wrong though.

Daniel Jess · Post by **Daniel Jess** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:06 pm

We were discussing this a while ago and we concluded that no was the answer.

The inner seal itself is usually partly destroyed once opened.

Mahmoud Ali · Post by **Mahmoud Ali** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:38 pm

Interesting question.

The seal may not be perfect but since the bottle could be stored upright, what about using cling wrap under the screwcap? Think that might work, or would the cling wrap deteriorate after a few years? I guess you could replace the wrap every few years or so. Course that would add a bit of air each time the wrap is changed.

Hmm. I have an idea for an experiment. Three bottles, same wine. One screw capped, another opened and closed, and the other opened every few
years and the cling wrap replaced.

I'll get back to you in 10 years............

Cheers...........Mahmoud.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:46 pm

Daniel Jess wrote:The inner seal itself is usually partly destroyed once opened.

I've had the inner seal pop out or stay on the bottle, but I don't remember seeing one that was "partly destroyed".

Daniel Jess · Post by **Daniel Jess** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:49 pm

Red Bigot wrote:I've had the inner seal pop out or stay on the bottle, but I don't remember seeing one that was "partly destroyed".

To elaborate.. the edges of the inner seal rub against the inner rim of the glass and become rough, as you turn the cap. It no longer seals as well as it did having only been sealed once.

Almaviva · Post by **Almaviva** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:03 pm

It's amazing to think even the top premium wines are being made with a screw-top, I wonder if this will eventually replace the cork???
Anyone know?

Daniel Jess · Post by **Daniel Jess** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:42 pm

I hope it does for lighter wines, but for wines designed for ageing, I'd prefer cork seal.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:08 am

Daniel Jess wrote:
Red Bigot wrote:I've had the inner seal pop out or stay on the bottle, but I don't remember seeing one that was "partly destroyed".

To elaborate.. the edges of the inner seal rub against the inner rim of the glass and become rough, as you turn the cap. It no longer seals as well as it did having only been sealed once.

I just had a look at three screwcaps under a magnifier lamp and could see no signs of damage. There is a slight crimping around the extreme outer edge that occurs when the seal is applied, but the actual compressed circular sealing area is quite undamaged.

Not that this is relevant to the ability to re-seal a bottle that has been opened, it's the oxygen ingress that you can't reverse.

lordson · Post by **lordson** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:30 am

thats true, but if the screwcap keeps any more air from getting in, it should be alright still

if the bottle is upright, only a small amount of oxygen is going to get in there, and it will react with the wine, but eventually, probably in a short period of time, the oxygen will all dissapear, and you'll have very little oxidation with the wine

Daniel Jess · Post by **Daniel Jess** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:18 pm

Red Bigot wrote:I just had a look at three screwcaps under a magnifier lamp and could see no signs of damage. There is a slight crimping around the extreme outer edge that occurs when the seal is applied, but the actual compressed circular sealing area is quite undamaged.

Ok, I concede defeat :oops:

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:25 pm

lordson wrote:thats true, but if the screwcap keeps any more air from getting in, it should be alright still

if the bottle is upright, only a small amount of oxygen is going to get in there, and it will react with the wine, but eventually, probably in a short period of time, the oxygen will all dissapear, and you'll have very little oxidation with the wine

That sounds like a remarkably insightful deduction for someone with no knowledge of wine.

But that's exactly what I do if I don't finish a bottle of wine in one session.
Firmly twist the cap back on and it back upright in the fridge. The remainder is usually consumed within a day or two.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:32 pm

Almaviva wrote:It's amazing to think even the top premium wines are being made with a screw-top, I wonder if this will eventually replace the cork???
Anyone know?

Probably "Yes" for the Australian market. The number of cellarable wines even $30+ that are adopting screwcaps seems to be growing exponentially. There may be a few that cling to cork such as Rockford but it seems they'll be very much exceptions to the majority.

Cheers

daz