Corkscrew Review: Code 38 Pro

[J_Sullivan]

In NYT:

The $410 Corkscrew (Published 2011)

[Faryan_Amir-Ghassemi]

“In our world of cheap throwaway products, it’s just nice to use something that has been designed and made without consideration for just meeting a price point.”

I think that gets to the heart of the matter. Craftsmanship in today’s age of 3rd world labor often costs an arm and a leg, and only caters to the taste of a select few. I never cheap out on tools I buy, but I’m not a sommerlier so I’m happy with my Laguiolle d’Aubrac…

[Mike_Heyse]

I think the analogy to kitchen knives is apt, as is the analogy to other “ordinary” tools. I have a Shun Santoku that is friggin’ insanely awesome to use. It cost an arm and a leg, but it could also cut either one off pretty easily. Another example: my brother is an auto mechanic, and has access to Snap-On tools; I get them as gifts from him periodically, and have bought a few special request items as well. They are simply different; better made, guaranteed for life, and they seem to inspire confidence while in hand.

Should a corkscrew be able to do all of that? I think so. If you care. My initial reaction to this was that it was just another snobby product for our snobby hobby; but the maker’s reason for inventing it hit me before I read his quote: the device opening the expensive wine should match the caliber of the expensive wine. Wine to me is at least in part about ceremony (which is why I hate screwcaps); so why not have a ceremonial opener? Sure it’s crazy expensive but hey, it’s a conversation piece, or a piece of functional art. I can think of a lot of other ways to waste $.

[PaulM]

@Theodore Anderson

I can’t believe a community of people with wine collections more valuable than a house and bottles more valuable than a car would crap on a guy for saying he likes an expensive tool.

This is a gated community of glass houses. All of us spend more than is rational on something that isn’t necessary. Duh.

Dude uses the thing every day. If it makes him even fractionally happier when he uses it, it’s money well spent.

[PaulM]

@Rob MacKay

The Ferrari:Ford Focus comparison. That makes no sense. A Ferrari can do things a Ford Focus can not do. This is just a corkscrew. It can’t do anything that my $30 pulltap can’t do.

Actually, it’s pretty dead on. I drive an XKR. It makes me happy. And, in theory, it could do things that a Ford Focus can’t do. In practice, on the streets of metropolitan DC, it accomplishes precisely the same tasks as a Focus, with no functionally significant difference in execution - perhaps two or three times a week, I zip into a small gap in traffic that shaves 23 seconds off my half-hour trip. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t make me happy, or that it isn’t cool. It’s probably a waste of money, but many cool things that make people happy are.

[Claude_Kolm]

@Mike Heyse

the device opening the expensive wine should match the caliber of the expensive wine.

There’s a link in that chain that spoils it: the cork that you’re removing doesn’t match the caliber of the expensive wine and may indeed have ruined that wine in whole or in part.

[Mike_Heyse]

@Claude Kolm

@Mike Heyse

the device opening the expensive wine should match the caliber of the expensive wine.

There’s a link in that chain that spoils it: the cork that you’re removing doesn’t match the caliber of the expensive wine and may indeed have ruined that wine in whole or in part.

Good point. But what about the gas in the Ferrari & Focus?

[Claude_Kolm]

@Mike Heyse

@Claude Kolm

@Mike Heyse

the device opening the expensive wine should match the caliber of the expensive wine.

There’s a link in that chain that spoils it: the cork that you’re removing doesn’t match the caliber of the expensive wine and may indeed have ruined that wine in whole or in part.

Good point. But what about the gas in the Ferrari & Focus?

Exactly. What would be the point of driving a Ferrari if the only gas available were 70 octane?

[Larry_P]

@Faryan Amir-Ghassem¡

Craftsmanship in today’s age of 3rd world labor often costs an arm and a leg, and only caters to the taste of a select few. I never cheap out on tools I buy

Faryan has it right, and here’s another quote that spoke to the issue:

“Mr. Toering assembles each one individually in his workshop. So far, he says, he has sold 137 Code-38s”

The cost of this kind of craftsmanship, at these volumes, will always be high, just as it is if you’re putting White Industries on your bicycle, Really Right Stuff on your tripod, buying Swarovsky Optics, Swiss watches, etc. Sure you can find a mass-produced knockoff that costs 1/10 the price but probably has some deficiencies in either design, performance, fit-and-finish, durability, or otherwise just isn’t as beautiful or doesn’t inspire pride in ownership. These are all things you’re paying for with the Code-38. I get that. For my camera I have a $500 head on top of a $700 tripod, so I wouldn’t begrudge anybody a $220 corkscrew.

The part of Chaad’s argument I don’t buy is the attitude that if you don’t get it, then you’re just not in as exclusive a club as he is. The flipside of the argument is that you’re just using it to open wine, and there are plenty of perfectly adequate devices for a lot less money, many used every day by that so-exclusive club of professional sommeliers, so it’s a perfectly adequate counter-argument.

The Code-38 is beautiful, thoughtfully conceived, and appears well crafted. It inspires pride of ownership. I look at it as a gorgeous, and functional, piece of jewelry. I get it, but I wouldn’t make it out to be much more than that.

[Rob_MacKay]

@Paul Marquardt

I drive an XKR. It makes me happy. And, in theory, it could do things that a Ford Focus can’t do.

That’s not a theory, it’s a fact. I think your problem is that you are driving it on the streets of metropolitan DC.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Michel Abood

…
I really do want to try the “shoe against the wall” method some day.

I tried this in a moment of desperation a few months ago. I couldn’t even get the cork to budge.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Theodore Anderson

I can’t believe a community of people with wine collections more valuable than a house and bottles more valuable than a car would crap on a guy for saying he likes an expensive tool.

Ditto. I don’t get it either. IMO, if you’ve ever purchased and consumed a bottle of wine that cost more than $100, then you should stfu w/r/t giving Chaad a hard time about liking and advocating for this corkscrew. Same thing if you own a Mont Blanc pen, or any watch that costs more than $150, or any vehicle that costs more than $30,000.

Now, to the extent that Chaad is demeaning those who disagree with him – well, that’s not cool … BUT, I don’t really see Chaad doing that (but for in a few instances where’s he’s dishing shit back at the original shit-disher).

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Cris Whetstone

But again Lewis, you are comparing something of high performance and of a complicated nature. We are talking about a wine opening screw after all. How much better can it be and how will you know? If I bought a really expensive screwdriver would it twist screws better? Do very expensive forks make your food better? I’ve used plenty of different kinds of openers. The only ones you notice are the ones that don’t work.

Guys who work in construction pay more than $100 for their hammer, and rightly so. A nice hammer makes a big difference, yet a hammer is not “of complicated nature.” Most people don’t pay more than $15 for their hammer. I see no difference here.

And, what about the value in simply thinking the corkscrew is cool? Or that it looks cool? Or feels cool? Seriously, I don’t get the flak Chaad is receiving on this.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Rob MacKay

I’ll clarify my position…

Two things…

1. The Ferrari:Ford Focus comparison. That makes no sense. A Ferrari can do things a Ford Focus can not do. This is just a corkscrew. It can’t do anything that my $30 pulltap can’t do.

…

Rob,

Read the OP – Chaad clearly says that it DOES do things your pulltap can’t do — at least, in his opinion it does, and since it was his money that he spent to purchase it, it’s really only his opinion that matters when it comes to his review of this corkscrew.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Enzo Ruffalo

@Rob MacKay

2. The idea that most of us are not qualified to even speak on the matter because we don’t open 1000s of bottles a year in a high pressure food service environment. Gimme a break.

The vitriol is probably hard to understand for those who missed the first thread on this a month or so back, where this point was driven home repeatedly by Chaad, that only a sommelier or wine professional could judge such an item. I just love tweaking snobby sommeliers.

I did not miss that thread, Enzo, yet the vitriol in this thread is nonetheless beyond my comprehension.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@gene keenan

@Eric LeVine

I am a little surprised by the level of vitriol in the thread in general. It’s just a corkscrew

I think you probably need to read the other thread Eric and maybe back up to read some of Chaad’s responses in this thread. IMO, it has nothing to do with the corkscrew and everything to do with Chaad’s condescending responses to posters, namely that nobody has the experience he has, and thus is not capable of judging the merits of a corkscrew…

Chaad didn’t sling shit in this thread (or the other one) until shit was slung at him. Many posters in this thread need to take a good look in the mirror.

[davidsturek]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

@Rob MacKay

I’ll clarify my position…

]
Rob,

Read the OP – Chaad clearly says that it DOES do things your pulltap can’t do — at least, in his opinion it does, and since it was his money that he spent to purchase it, it’s really only his opinion that matters when it comes to his review of this corkscrew.

But it wasn’t his money…he got the corkscrew for free and then pimped it here. He only confessed that after being questioned on the matter directly. Pretty poor form imho.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@davidsturek

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

@Rob MacKay

I’ll clarify my position…

]
Rob,

Read the OP – Chaad clearly says that it DOES do things your pulltap can’t do — at least, in his opinion it does, and since it was his money that he spent to purchase it, it’s really only his opinion that matters when it comes to his review of this corkscrew.

But it wasn’t his money…he got the corkscrew for free and then pimped it here. He only confessed that after being questioned on the matter directly. Pretty poor form imho.

David, good point you make. As I’m sure you figured out, I’ve been replying to particular posts as I worked my way through this thread (before reading the rest of the thread). I do think Chaad should have made disclosure in the OP, but I choose to believe Chaad when he says that he will be paying for the corkscrew he used and reviewed. If others choose not to believe him, well, that’s fine, too. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion … I just don’t get why so many people are denying Chaad his.

How many people in this thread have posted TN’s on wines that were given to them by the producer for free without disclosing that they received that wine for free? (whether as a gift or because the producer was seeking their honest assessment) I have, and I bet many others in this thread have, too. While others (apparently) might doubt my integrity or the honesty of my TN on such a wine, I know in my heart that my TN was honest. Why others are begrudging of Chaad on this point is beyond me. As he pointed-out (and I agree with him on this, too), he doesn’t pimp his wines on this board, so one would think that has earned him some credits … but I guess not, huh?

[Tyler_Rico]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

@gene keenan

@Eric LeVine

I am a little surprised by the level of vitriol in the thread in general. It’s just a corkscrew

I think you probably need to read the other thread Eric and maybe back up to read some of Chaad’s responses in this thread. IMO, it has nothing to do with the corkscrew and everything to do with Chaad’s condescending responses to posters, namely that nobody has the experience he has, and thus is not capable of judging the merits of a corkscrew…

Chaad didn’t sling shit in this thread (or the other one) until shit was slung at him. Many posters in this thread need to take a good look in the mirror.

really?

you should give this thread another read

He basically belittled people because they expressed the opinion that a $200+ corkscrew was a waste of money. He gave the impression that only someone of his great intelligence had the brains to review such a sophisticated item.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

Tyler,

In Post 4, you call the purchase of a $245 corkscrew “laughable.” You then call such a purchase “unjustified.” What if you reviewed a $245 bottle of wine and somebody then called the purchase “laughable” and “unjustified.” IMO, that’s the equivalent of that somebody calling you stupid. So, my point is, I read your post (Post #4), and many others, as calling Chaad stupid and/or belittling his choice to support this product (regardless of whether he spent his own money on it or not … and, fwiw, I believe him that he will be forking over his own money for the corkscrew (see my above response to David for a more lengthy explanation of why I believe him)). And, calling somebody stupid is the equivalent of slinging shit, in my book.