The Auswine Forum

I've seen various earlier threads on bottle openers. Is there a consensus view on the best bottle opener at the moment for dealing with old corks with a tendency to collapse into 10 pieces, break in half at the middle or simply slide back out? I've had 2 older bottles in the past 2 weeks with this type of issue. Remarkably, the cork on a well stored 1970 Montrose came out cleanly.

I think the AH-SO http://www.petersofkensington.com.au/Public/Monopol-Ah-So-Cork-Puller.aspx is by far the best tool to have.

The Monopole Ah-So is pretty much all I use at my place but those with deep pockets go for the Durand. The latter works better for the really old corks that can get pushed in with the Ah-So

I use the Ah-So, and if that fails I use two corkscrews-put one in, then the other and pull both out. It gives twice the grip, and pulls out even the oldest crumbeler.

rossmckay wrote:The Monopole Ah-So is pretty much all I use at my place but those with deep pockets go for the Durand. The latter works better for the really old corks that can get pushed in with the Ah-So

And for those with shallow pockets (ie me), Diddy mentions a cheap option in this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13776&start=0

the durand is a combo corkscrew and ah-so which has the distinct advantage of holding the cork while you slip the prongs in.

http://thedurand.com/

Cheers, thanks all, very helpful. Suspect the extra digit will exclude the Durrant as good as it does look, so the Ah So will get first go.

And then I decant through a fine mesh filter into the decanter. The tool of choice becomes less relevant (and yes, I have an Ah So and an arsenal of other cork extraction weaponry).

looks like will have ago with The Durand... had couple of old vintage bottles where the Ah-So just pushed the cork down a little bit further, maybe I handled it little rough or wrong, but I managed to get the cork out unharmed. Hope the extra $$ worth it.

Had a chuckle at some of the blokes facial expressions "WOW" looks on their faces in the Durand's short film clips at website.

I've thought about getting one as well...I think the main thing keeping me from doing it is I just don't have that many really old bottles where it is an issue...Usually the Ah So works fine and then that one time the cork is getting pushed in is when I wish I had a Durand...

I reckon though, it'll last a long time...and knowing it'll work on the hard to do bottles is pretty good peace of mind....I'm still waiting to get a Coravin though....haha..so many wine gadgets..

I've been thinking about getting a Durand, since I have a few Ports.
The guys I know who drink a lot of older Port say it is the best opener they have found.

The Durand is brilliant. Just very pricey. Mine was a generous gift from a mate. Not sure I would have forked out for one myself.

-- George Krashos

You can use a normal waiter's friend screwthread with the Ah-so and have an equivalent to the Durand.

damonpeyo wrote:
Had a chuckle at some of the blokes facial expressions "WOW" looks on their faces in the Durand's short film clips at website.

I thought the clips just epitomised the whole wine wank thing with a bunch of more elderly gents sitting at the table while all the women stood to the side and weren't allowed into the "inner sanctum"

with napkins covering their pot bellies

redstuff wrote:You can use a normal waiter's friend screwthread with the Ah-so and have an equivalent to the Durand.

You could..I've seen people do this is as well..but it is a bit of a pain to do. Also, the Ah So portion of the Durand is a bit longer so it'll go all the way down...whereas a normal Ah So I don't think it is long enough to do that when something is there in the way...

With the number of times this is an actual problem (not many in my case) it is probably better doing it the DIY way...but at the same time, it isn't so expensive as to think you wouldn't get value out of it.

What I don't like about it is the warranty is really short for such an expensive corkscrew.....although that probably doesn't apply in Australia since you could easily argue spending 169 AUD on a corkscrew means you'd expect it to last at least a few years...Haha..maybe that'll convince me to buy it in AU rather than the US...

I always worry about losing stuff like this too as I'd be likely to bring it to offlines, etc...

Teisto wrote:

damonpeyo wrote:
Had a chuckle at some of the blokes facial expressions "WOW" looks on their faces in the Durand's short film clips at website.

I thought the clips just epitomised the whole wine wank thing with a bunch of more elderly gents sitting at the table while all the women stood to the side and weren't allowed into the "inner sanctum"

This (until i get to one) is how I picture a forum offline!

alexc92 wrote:

Teisto wrote:

damonpeyo wrote:
Had a chuckle at some of the blokes facial expressions "WOW" looks on their faces in the Durand's short film clips at website.

I thought the clips just epitomised the whole wine wank thing with a bunch of more elderly gents sitting at the table while all the women stood to the side and weren't allowed into the "inner sanctum"

This (until i get to one) is how I picture a forum offline!

Not in Brisbane. Wank factor close to zero.

rens wrote:

alexc92 wrote:This (until i get to one) is how I picture a forum offline!

Not in Brisbane. Wank factor close to zero.

Really? You guys aren't discussing the wine in detail or swirling it in the glass or sticking your nose in the glass? I'm not saying the level of wine wank would be that of the video..but I think most outsiders would think it is pretty wanky...

Basically if what you hear at the table is "Fruity, smooth, good" then maybe not...but if anything like acidity, tannins, minerality, texture, residual sugar, etc, etc comes up then you're on the wine wank side .

Personally I don't think it is wanky from what I understand the definition of wanker to be....but I do think most people looking at it think it is....