Re: Dan Murphy's and Other Wine Deals
So what does cork add then, since you disagree?
I'm with Daver6. I'm here to drink wine not obsess over how I open the bottle
But you , Daver6 and others are wrong .Let me explain for you.
Cork adds a hint, a little prelude to the romance that will ensue. Prior to the momentous occasion of actually first seeing that compressed bark tissue is the initiation phase, very important at the onset, of removing the foil or protective sleeve should that exist. Kind of sounds like a young school kid doing the proper thing on a prom night way ..... except in reverse ! The exposure of this sexy, sultry, suggestive suberin brings sighs of adulation and endearment especially when some caricature or initials are found stamped on the side of the cork. Kind of like a tribal image provoking thoughts of fondness, familiarity, quality and acceptance. The excitement builds on inspection of the exposed circular tip of the cork and the extraction process to follow is one of life's highlights.
The tool, aptly named for this extraction, is the corkscrew. What a fantastic name for this so called waiters friend. I have worked in hospitality and in my day, this was not a waiters friend. A waiters friend was someone who tipped ! But for those who prefer their Maseratis to their Mazdas, we have the Parrot cork extractor. Or the Frog using a clever metal criss cross design. Or the Quick and Easy, the Wriggle and Twist.,the Italian Stapi, the As As, the Pam or the Ideal. Or the famous Ah-So. Designed by that German company Monopol. this device, with its unimaginable simplicity has the ability to define your enjoyment pleasure like no other, especially when dealing with the more mature wines. If fragments should plunge into the waiting crystal glass below, then this humble device should be renamed the Ah-Sole. No hint of broken cork should compromise this hedonistic activity. There is so much more class, so much more finesse, so much more work involved when opening a lovely bottle of wine as compared to the simple action of turning a metal cap anticlockwise two or three times. Where I ask is the beauty, the elegance, the pizzazz and essentially the romance in this so primal of instincts? There is none.
The ultimate finale of this initial phase is the enjoyment of the bottle contents. There is hesitation, excitement, and an increased pulse rate, there is an overwhelming desire to taste, however there is a reason why we have two nostrils and we must use them fully as God designed them. Air is free so take a big long sniff to entice. If we are happy with the scent so far, time for a little bit of sucking. But what happens when you look around the room, under your shoes, on your clothes searching for something that smells like sweaty socks, a damp cloth, your wet dog but actually it's in your hands. Romance over. Game over.
PS Just went into the hallowed room and pulled out something for the next three hours. A Willunga 100 Cab/Shiraz 2014.
Wearing thongs, in the study typing, and the two cats are outside.
And how is the wine..............smells beautiful and tastes even better.
Stelvin closure - you really didn't have to ask !
