Wet corks

[beef]

'Lo all,

I just received a case of wine in the post, containing 6 of the 2002 Glaetzer Shiraz, and 6 of the 2002 Tim Adams Aberfeldy.

It's been raining like buggery here in Brisbane, and my box was wet, along with all of the bottles. Some of the bottles' corks seem to be protruding from their necks, creating a bulge at the top of the capsules. I'm wondering if the corks have expanded because of the moisture, and if they might not be stuffed (i.e. will contract when dried, and not properly fill the neck).

Thanks everyone,

Stuart

[Nayan]

The corks shouldn't be affected by rain.

A protruding cork sounds more like the wine has been heat affected.

Regards

Nayan

[lantana]

'Lo all,

I just received a case of wine in the post, containing 6 of the 2002 Glaetzer Shiraz, and 6 of the 2002 Tim Adams Aberfeldy.

It's been raining like buggery here in Brisbane, and my box was wet, along with all of the bottles. Some of the bottles' corks seem to be protruding from their necks, creating a bulge at the top of the capsules. I'm wondering if the corks have expanded because of the moisture, and if they might not be stuffed (i.e. will contract when dried, and not properly fill the neck).

Thanks everyone,

Stuart

Stuart,

Bulging corks means heat, to me. Rain probably wouldn't have such an effect, if any. When the wines experience heat the air inside the bottles expands & pushes the corks out. I'd complain immediately to the shipper/retailer, it doesn't look as if they've taken due care.

Good luck,
lantana

[Red Bigot]

Stuart,

I've never seen/heard of corks bulging due to a little moisture on the bottles, only from heat. if the bulging is in both the Glaetzer and Aberfeldy I'd suspect it's been hot somewhere along the line, a bit odd in the current weather though. If it's only 1-2 bottles, it may just be a bottling/corking hiccup, I've had the odd bottle with a bit of cork bulge, I generally drink them first, but don't remember having a problem with any of them.

Re water damage, did it get wet during delivery to you or was it left somewhere at your delivery address and got wet? If so, did you give instructions on leaving the wine? If the labels are water-damaged during delivery, with the corks bulging etc I'd call the retailer and ask them to take it back.

[Guest]

Stuart,

I've never seen/heard of corks bulging due to a little moisture on the bottles, only from heat. if the bulging is in both the Glaetzer and Aberfeldy I'd suspect it's been hot somewhere along the line, a bit odd in the current weather though. If it's only 1-2 bottles, it may just be a bottling/corking hiccup, I've had the odd bottle with a bit of cork bulge, I generally drink them first, but don't remember having a problem with any of them.

Re water damage, did it get wet during delivery to you or was it left somewhere at your delivery address and got wet? If so, did you give instructions on leaving the wine? If the labels are water-damaged during delivery, with the corks bulging etc I'd call the retailer and ask them to take it back.

You just want to buy those Glaetzers yourself Seriously though, thanks for the info. Only one each of the Glaetzers and Aberfeldys have noticeably convex capsule-tops. Most of the Aberfeldys have flat tops, however, with only one having the typically concave top. Does anyone have either of these wines who would be so kind as to check their typical cork levels for me?

Wines got wet in transit. They weren't left unattended at the destination. Most of the labels are OK. And I agree, heat doesn't seem likely (going from Canberra to Brisbane) at this time of the year.

Thanks,

Stuart

[Red Bigot]

You just want to buy those Glaetzers yourself

Yeah, send them back and I'll buy them cheap as damaged stock.

My 6 Glaetzer 2002 are all sl. concave, the 6 TA Aberfeldy likewise flat/concave, as far as I can tell without removing the tissue paper wrapping.

The last one I had some cork bulge on was 2 of 6 Primo Estate Moda Cab-Merlot 2002, tried the worst affected bottle and there was no sign of any heat damage or any problem with the wine, no leakage down the side of the cork.

At the very least let the merchant know their delivery people are slack and let the box get wet.

[lantana]

[ And I agree, heat doesn't seem likely (going from Canberra to Brisbane) at this time of the year.

Thanks,

Stuart[/quote]

Which would make me even more concerned about their long term storage where they came from, remember the Aberfeldy, I know was at least released in February, not sure when the Glaetzer was released, but we had plenty of 30C+ days in Feb/March 05.

lantana

[Red Bigot]

Glaetzer was sourced directly from the winery within the last week, I asked when I checked whether they had stock in store (they don't). This particular store does get quite hot in summer, except for their large museum stock cool room, not sure where the Aberfeldy would have been kept.