Newest Threads

**Kev** · 03-07-2012, 12:48 AM

As a newbie, we just had our first bottling weekend.

A chocolate Orange port, an Amarone, and a Chilean Malbec Shiraz.

They only got bulk aged just over a month more than the instructions state.

The good news, all three tasted very good, even at this early stage. The Malbec perhaps a little too strong on the oak, but I expect that will settle with time.

There was a half bottle of each left which I corked until the next day.

As the two big reds were intended for aging, at the recommendation of the wine store, I used synthetic corks.

Both corks I removed have a score line down one side of the cork, likely from the jaws in my new floor corker.
It looks just like you took your thumb nail and made a line down the length of the cork.

I am worried this could cause an air leak. The bottles are still vertical.

The standard cork in the port is fine.

Do I need to remove the seals and all the corks and replace them? 60 bottles.

Wade E · 03-07-2012, 12:51 AM

Im guessing you have a Port. floor corker! This is a well known problem and yes you may want to remove and recork using non synthetic with a Port corker.

**Kev** · 03-07-2012, 01:51 AM

Yes it is a plastic jaw Port. Corker. The new purple color version, which I was told by the wine store was an upgrade to the older orange version. Further I was told it was the orange version that had the scoring problem. However I seem to have confirmed otherwise.

I guess I have to give up on synthetic corks, as I am unable to find a reasonable corker that works with them.

Kev

**Kev** · 03-07-2012, 01:53 AM

Is there a better corker I can get?

If not what is a proper cork for 5 years storage?

Wade E · 03-07-2012, 01:55 AM

Synthetics arent as good for aging anyways!

**Kev** · 03-07-2012, 02:51 AM

A little research suggests I need to get the Italian corker instead of Portuguese, if I want to use good ( synthetic ) corks.

I don't mind spending the extra $70, I just want it to work with these corks.

Kev

***vacuumpumpman*** · 03-07-2012, 04:00 AM

I will typically use synthetics corks and push them down atleast 1/4'' and add wax to insure a proper seal

thanks steve

Wade E · 03-07-2012, 09:56 AM

Kev, youd be better off buying Bi-disc corks, there way better then synthetic corks are and they will work with your corker and let your wine age much better.

Runningwolf · 03-07-2012, 10:10 AM

I agree. I use 1+1.

**Kev** · 03-07-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade E

Kev, youd be better off buying Bi-disc corks, there way better then synthetic corks are and they will work with your corker and let your wine age much better.

Are those the ones with aglomerated cork in the middle but end caps of solid cork?

I have seen those on-line, but not at the wine stores.