I own a Durand...

WINE TALK
1

…so am I stupid for using any other corkscrew?

2

No. The Durand certainly takes more time than a waiter’s friend, and even marginally more time than an Ah-so alone. So if the cork is young and generally problem-free, then it may make sense to use other corkscrews.

3

Jim.

The only person I know who really doesn’t like to use the Durand on older bottles is Eric Reynaud at Bern’s.

He has used a very specific Sommelier edition Laguiole forever. He is an absolute master with it. Most ordinary humans would have so many failed bottles using the device like he does. I wouldn’t even chance it.

For all the other ordinary humans, the Durand is great for those really old bottles.

4

I still use a waiters friend for young bottles.

5

Have you tried a side-by-side tasting of the same wine opened with a Durand vs. a regular corkscrew? Maybe throw a Code38 in the flight. The results should be telling.

6

I can open a bottle twice as fast with my simple little waiters friend.

I have a durand and with the exception of a few ports, I never use it.

7

Screwpull for almost everything.

Durand when needed.

8

no, you’re stupid because you’re still removing corks from bottles. why are you still living way back in the early part of the second decade of the 21st century???

CORAVIN GODDAMIT!!!

[banhim.gif]

9

+1

10

:slight_smile:

11

The little booklet that came with my Durand said not to use it on young wines. It even gave a minimum suggested age, which I forget, but I only use mine on older bottles. That way it will stay in near-perfect condition for a very long time.

12

[highfive.gif]

Hilarious.

13

I noticed Brad Dixon, Bern’s, used a Laguiole-style opener as well on two very old bottles I bought a week or so ago. Both of those guys are very adept at using it.

14

What is this cork removal process you speak of Yaacov?

15

Good point.

16

I guess I dream of wearing out my corkscrew instead of misjudging the relative youth of a cork. But I also believe myself to be stupid, so… champagne.gif

17

So you would use a Coravin to drink a full bottle of wine ? neener

(besides the problems of deposit, slow oxy, old & fragile corks etc. …)

18

I don’t own a Durand but I do own several corkscrews and some slightly expensive. For most bottles I use a cheap waiter’s corkscrew. No point in dulling the auger on the nicer ones.

I used Screwpull for years but gave it up because if it’s not very sharp, it can push chunks of cork into the wine when it pierces the bottom of the cork. That’s not an issue with a waiter’s corkscrew because the auger doesn’t push all the way though.

For older bottles it’s a Laguiole if the cork is loose, Monopol ah-so if it’s tight. I think Durand might be on my wife’s Xmas shopping list. I certainly wouldn’t mind owning one, but I wouldn’t use it every day (unless I was opening old bottles every day.)

19

I laughed! [thumbs-up.gif]

20

Paying that much for a corkscrew - Durand or Code 38 - whatever… [welldone.gif] [wink.gif]