With more and more wines (whites in particular) under synthetic cork, I have taken to my Coravin for sampling. I know it’s not recommended by the manufacturer because these corks don’t reseal. But plenty of folks here report using candle wax to reseal the needle point on regular corks so why shouldn’t it work on Diam, etc.?
My sampling is too small to be conclusive but in at least one or two instances, I have not detected degradation over a few months. If anyone else has tried, please report your findings.
I’ve done it on accident and I think it works decently well (never tried to keep for more than 1 - 2 months). Even if the hole doesn’t completely reseal, I think the wine should, in theory, be protected since argon is denser than air (but, I’m sure someone with some scientific knowledge will correct me).
Me too. I went straight through the capsule without looking underneath. At the time, I thought it seemed a little more difficult than normal to insert. When it came time to uncork the bottle, I realized it was not a natural cork. That said, in my case, I didn’t experience any issues.
I’ve had a lot of success with using Coravin on DIAM corks. I use the vintage needle and remove it slowly, though. Just for safety I cover the top with plastic for a few hours and turn the wine sideways.
That being said, I think it reseals very well, and can barely tell where the puncture was made.
I’ve done it by accident. If it’s a DIAM 10 it’s extremely hard to get through it and you’re apt to break the needle. DIAM 3 or 5 are much easier but still very stiff.
I bent up vintage needle on a synthetic cork by accident once. Forgot to check the cork and forgot to swap the needle back to the regular one. Just taco’d right at the base.
That said, the standard needle has gone through DIAM and synthetic just fine, although I try not to Coravin the synthetic corks if I notice in time.
I would really be hesitant to do this given the needle issue. Those diam corks are so frigging dense it’s like trying to drill through drywall, even using a conventional corkscrew. Plastic corks, never. Wine is usually not that expensive. I would just pull the whole cork and drink it over a couple of days…
Also have done it by accident. I always use candle wax to seal right away and have had no issues. I have seen the wine bubbling back through the hole when it doesn’t seal so I think it needs the extra seal. Natural cork seems to expand back into place, the diam leaves a hole that doesn’t close by itself.
I’ve also done it by accident. It wasn’t ‘too’ hard getting the needle in…but pulling it out was a completely different story. I literally thought I was going to rip my Coravin in half. I’m not exactly a small guy and had to pull as hard as I could to get it out.
In regards to the wine, I popped a toothpick in the hole. Seemed to work ok over a week or so…but I prob would not leave it for a long period of time.