I have used Screwpull products for a very long time and generally like them.
My most recent one gave up the ghost and I am in the market for a new one (unless someone can suggest a better product…).
I point out that I open up hundreds up bottles a year. I am not in the market for a “once a week, Sunday lunch” job.
I checked out the range available in a local store. The LM-400 B - very expensive - caught my eye, but it seems kind of heavy and unwieldy, especially for a woman (i.e., my wife, f’rinstance).
Can anyone share their experiences here?
I was surprised to learn that Screwpull had been bought by a French industrial group, Le Creusot. I was even led to understand the former brand will disappear.
I’ve used these Screwpulls on numerous occasions, and they are almost always a major pain the ass. I can remove a cork much more quickly with a waiter-style corkscrew or with an Ah-so than I can one of those Screwpulls — and it’s not even close. I suspect the same would hold true for you and your wife, regardless of how many bottles you open each week.
Agreed. I have both (got the lever in a le Creuset outlet store) but mostly use the screw type. The lever is faster if I have a lot of bottles, but does not always work on either really tight or fairly poor corks.
I host a couple of tasting groups, and for those a Leverpull (or Rabbit) is a must. I find it very reliable with young bottles.
For older bottles, where the cork may be crumbly or otherwise delicate, I go with the Ah-So (particularly for stickies, where the cork can be sort of glued to the neck with sugar and needs loosening) or the Screwpull table or pocket models. These are less rough on the cork.
(Alex – I’ve included the links to Amazon in the U.S. because it appears the French product names are a little different and there could be misunderstandings.)
The lever model will, under the right circumstances, jam the cork into your bottle with great force, precipitating a ceiling-coating geyser of wine. Trust me on this.