What do you use? I've had a few crumbly corks recently (and so has my mum) and I was wondering what you use when you know that the corkscrew will essentially break the cork in half? I have a needle which can pump air below the cork to push it out - but it relies on the cork being airtight (not always the case - even if the wine is still good).

I remember seeing something which looked like you were slipping two metal strips down each side of the cork, but I don't know what it's called.

 

Here you go, @Cloth Ears:

 

New Monopol Exquisit Ah-So Cork Puller Extractor Wine Champagne Opener - MyDeal

 

Yes - they work very well! 

 

Andy

 

Edited May 11, 20223 yr by andyr

6 minutes ago, andyr said:

Here you go, @Cloth Ears:

 

New Monopol Exquisit Ah-So Cork Puller Extractor Wine Champagne Opener - MyDeal

 

Andy

 

That's the one I was thinking of. And the kitchen warehouse has it for under $30 - I'll buy two!

 

Thanks!

 

Not sure where Champagne came into it - I don't think it works for them corks.

Edited May 11, 20223 yr by Cloth Ears

They used to be called "Ah So".

 

Here's one for $9 except that postage is more than the item!  But next time that you are in Melb ....

 

https://culinaryclub.com.au/product/vin-bouquet-ah-so-cork-remover/?gclid=CjwKCAjwve2TBhByEiwAaktM1N90X8VJKh1j_iKgdFzqKymEguGGq4gTYXKPIW393SLW2Pg6IofWmxoCeRAQAvD_BwE

 

-------------------

 

The cork in my museum wines and some others often disintegrate even with the Ah So.  Then I decant into a flask of some sort through a filter funnel with a stocking as the filter paper.  Removes sediment as well.

Yep, I found one locally for $11 - the only difference looks to be the plastic cover. I'll try that when I go to pick up the new spectacles.

 

I’ve had good results from the Legacy cork pops

Edited May 12, 20223 yr by mtf

13 hours ago, mtf said:

 

I’ve had good results from the Legacy cork pops

I've got something similar, although it's probably 40 years old and all metal construction. Haven't managed to find another like it, although it's good to know there are newer versions of the same thing.

On older corks, I've found that some (mid-90's and before) are crumbly enough so that the air doesn't get trapped below the cork and so it doesn't begin to start pushing it out. Possibly the corks are structurally unsound at this stage, or maybe the passage of the needle through the cork has caused a bit of an issue. Basically, if the needle doesn't 'squeak' on the way in, then it's possible I won't be able to use this properly. So the Ah-so is a good backup!

I enjoy the challenge of getting them out with a waiters friend, lots of practice makes perfect 🤗

22 minutes ago, Mendes said:

I enjoy the challenge of getting them out with a waiters friend, lots of practice makes perfect 🤗

LOL. I used to think that, but some corks refuse to acknowledge my perfection! No matter how gentle I am...

I just use the pokemin method..

On 13/05/2022 at 12:36 PM, Mendes said:

I enjoy the challenge of getting them out with a waiters friend, lots of practice makes perfect 🤗

Well, the 1990 Rosemount Reserve CabSauv showed how the best made plans...are not required. The cork came out smoothly after about 3 pumps of the gadget and showed less than a quarter was wet (but was really super red wet!).

Another win from the Coonawarra - delish, top of the curve. Although we were reading the label and wondered about a Hunter Valley labelled Coonawarra. Were the grapes tranported, or was it made in the region and only the ownership was in the Hunter?

Edited May 14, 20223 yr by Cloth Ears

There is a version of the Ah-so that allows a corkscrew to be inserted along with the prongs. You may then use a combination of the prongs and the corkscrew. Useful for especially troublesome corks.

 

https://www.mscellars.com.au/product/?pro=OTM=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIraX-xN_j9wIVM5pmAh3d-gH9EAQYBCABEgKuv_D_BwE

59 minutes ago, DRC said:

There is a version of the Ah-so that allows a corkscrew to be inserted along with the prongs. You may then use a combination of the prongs and the corkscrew. Useful for especially troublesome corks.

 

https://www.mscellars.com.au/product/?pro=OTM=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIraX-xN_j9wIVM5pmAh3d-gH9EAQYBCABEgKuv_D_BwE

The absolute last word in corkscrews....... they are amazing 👍

My kit, never met a cork I couldn't extract between them. 

 

The Corkpops are very underated for old bottles and shrunken corks. You just have to know how to regulate the pressure of them (that is the art to them)

 

Love the one on the left. And my needle 'corkpop' is a manual version (i.e. you pump it like a bike pump) that's decades old. Only time I have trouble with it is if the cork is 'leaky' - so the cork doesn't have an airtight seal. That's when I went for the 'Ah So'.

On 16/5/2022 at 2:52 AM, DRC said:

There is a version of the Ah-so that allows a corkscrew to be inserted along with the prongs. You may then use a combination of the prongs and the corkscrew. Useful for especially troublesome corks.

 

https://www.mscellars.com.au/product/?pro=OTM=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIraX-xN_j9wIVM5pmAh3d-gH9EAQYBCABEgKuv_D_BwE

+1 this will get any cork out.  Definitely a belt and suspenders approach.  Not cheap, nor particularly easy, but effective.

Edited June 28, 20223 yr by ACHiPo