I know it is expensive.
The materials are first rate.
Mark Taylor the inventor gave me a code to save 5% for all my friends.
I am posting it here.
With free shipping in the US until 1/31/10 and 5% off, it is a better deal.
The code is…
It probably works quite well, but does seem a bit pricey. For old, recalcitrant corks, I’ve tended to use the long screw piece from the original screwpull, without the housing that fits over the neck. It takes a little patience, but usually works.
Al, I don’t know if you have ever hung out on the same board as François Audouze, famous collector of old French wines? What you described is “his” standard technique for old corks. Interesting that you came up with exactly the same method.
The Ah-So is great for “glued” corks. My worst recent cork was in a bottle of vintage Port and it ended up down inside the bottle. Well, the majority of it did… My corkscrew “ate” 1/3 of the cork and the Ah-So pushed the rest down inside.
I hang out on that board from time to time, and I got the idea of using the screw piece from Mark Sutherland who, I believe, got it from M. Audouze. It takes a little patience but it does work well.
François was on Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts for a long time before he decided he needed a bigger audience, I think it was on BWE that I learned about his 'screwing techniques.