Discussing Cork vs. Screwcaps during a Grab Bag Wine Tasting

Discussing Cork vs. Screwcaps during a Grab Bag Wine Tasting – Episode #654

April 7, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk and Liza “The Wine Chick” Zimmerman taste 3 totally different wines and debate the relative merits of cork and screwcap enclosures.

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Comments on this episode(254) Leave a comment ›

“GV, I really find it hard to believe that screwtop wines flavors are g…” by eharms
“I enjoy the show, and Gary’s always very entertaining. I love the Pet…” by Ben
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Mythic River Sauv BlancGreek White Wine
2006 Bleasdale Langhorne Crossing Shiraz/ CabernetAustralian Red Meritage
2007 Descendientes De Jose Palacios Bierzo PetalosBierzo

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

254 Responses

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April 7, 2009

JB
1. Cork taint is not an absolute value, it is a gradation. It is simply not the case that a wine is or is not corked, and that if it is it is MASSIVELY corked. A wine with a small quantity of cork taint will not necessarily exhibit corked characters, but the result will be a dumbed-down, tasteless wine, leading most people to just rag on the wine instead of identifying cork taint.

2. It is poor myth that seepage of air allowed by cork benefits the aging process of a wine. 1 in 1000 times, a cork in an old wine will have done what it was MEANT to do, which is provide a near-perfect seal and prevent any exchange of gases. These are wines that have aged PROPERLY, and while having evolved in complexity, will also maintain an inherent freshness that it should have. Oxidisation, whether occuring quickly or slowly, it the destruction of the wine. It is simply a result of habitualisation that we consider an oxidised old wine to be a good old wine, mostly because most of us have never tasted a properly sealed aged wine. Those who have know.

3. Vineyards here in Australia have been experimenting with screw-cap vs. cork for 20 years now. Comparitive tastings of aged wines using both seals consistently show screw top to have kept a FAR superior result.

Sorry Gary, but I think you sounded like a patronising sommelier (or wine providor) who doesn’t give the customer’s or consumer’s palate its due credit in identifying corker wines. Sure, there are probably some wankers who might make it up to sound impressive, but they would be in the extreme minority. As I’m sure you’d agree, different palates are differently able and skilled at identifying different wine characters in differing degrees. Perhaps your palate just isn’t that great at identifying low quantities of cork taint. But don’t just assume people are making it up.

The sooner every wine in the world is under screw cap, the better.
April 7, 2009

Robin C
Wonderful to have a female guest who is knowledgeable about wine and who has lots of opinions.

QOTD: I’ve had Amarula liquor – we have a friend who’s Afrikaans who let us know about it.
April 7, 2009

brorjace
Amarulla! I’ve watched the crazy video watching animals getting loaded on it, its awesome! Also we’ve carried it in our store from time to time. As for the cork v screwcap, I think about 90% of wine should have a screwcap or non-cork enclosure. The only wines that really demand a cork are the super high end, and they can hopfully get non-corked corks from the producers. Having had say a New Zealand Sauv Blanc in a screwcap is incredible, so much freshness! Add in ease of use, and its a no brainer for me. Also, I think the 2% of corks being corked is about right, but with corks you can also get excess oxidation/leakage, which is a pain too.
April 7, 2009

pete C
Go with the Wine Chick’s strength and taste the Portuguese wines. Yeah, I think up to 2% or wines with corks are tainted with TCA.
April 7, 2009

SCOTTYL
Gary-Great show as always_last week I had the best screw cap wine yet_It was a Felton Road 2006 Pinot Noir,have you had the pleasure yet? If not you should make it part of your New Zealand trip this year!
April 7, 2009

Elias
That woman looks like The Joker!!! look when she smiles!!!

I don’t know.. when a guest is not a “wine person”, like either an accomplished wine maker, sommellier, critic, I seem to get bored with the guest… I know I am a whingy git, but hey, this is rainy gloomy england matey!! I like when your episodes are snappy and to the point, like the one yesterday.I think when you have guests you seem to enjoy yourself too much talking about wine, and the episode becomes a bit long. Especially with guests like Liza that do not offer any really informative opinion, a 35 minute episode seems too long.

Keep it up matey!

QOTD: I only know the answer because I went for vacation to South Africa and Zimbabwe 3 years ago (when you could still buy bread in Zim…)
April 7, 2009

JCN
dude….. you called your viewers jerkoffs!

I agree though, the QOTD shouldn’t have a right answer, it should spark discussion.
April 7, 2009

Laurie in VT
QOTD: I had no clue, until I read the comments of people who looked it up. Never heard of the fruit or the liqueur before today- fun!
Liza was a great guest, very sharp. I still think cork is not as necessary as commonly thought, but she has a point from an environmental perspective.
April 7, 2009

Taco John
The look on your face Gary when she said 5-10% of bottles were corked was priceless. It’s a look of total disbelief that seemed to paralyze your face.
April 7, 2009

gomestar
Gary – I love it when you can kind of “debate” with guests over the merits of wines or techniques, etc.

On your 1 in every 2500 comment for corked wine – I’m watching all of your old WLTV episodes, and you’ve had at least 2 corked wines in your first 125 or so shows (I specifically remember the first being with a guest during a Cali cab episode, and the second being in #121, Sauternes). Just using these 2 and overestimating 5 new wines per show, this would equal out to about 1:312 wines being corked. Is this a fluke?
April 7, 2009

Brenda
Re: Percentage of corked wine.

Gary,

I’m with Lisa here. I would say more like 1 in 75 but DEFINITELY not 1 in 2500.
I have not had 2500 bottles and have experienced corked bottles. In fact, I purchased a 1/2 case from a good store and 1 bottle was corked, the next wasn’t. The smell was vinegary and the corks looked different. In no way was the bottle drinkable – even after hours of breathing.

Good show.

Brenda
April 7, 2009

Chris V
I just saw that someone else has the name Chris V on here; what are the chances?

For those who read this, here is a link and a great write up on Brett:

http://www.aromadictionary.com/articles/brettanomyces_article.html

I was reading the other posts and I to would like to see an episode on incredible Portuguese wine in the $8-$15 range. It’s out there, I just have not had a chance to introduce myself.

Great episode and now it’s time to find this so called marula liqueur!
April 7, 2009

Chilemily
Great show today! Liza was a really informative guest.

QOTD: Hmmm I definitely don’t know, but scrolling down the page I soon found the answer!

Also, it’s about a time for a Chilean wine episode, don’t you think
April 7, 2009

Caleb Sexton
QOTD: Marula. No Google required. I am that much of a trivia nerd. Plus I have a bottle of the liqueur in my fridge.

I liked the show. More technical stuff please. Don’t be afraid to go a little Sir Gary Vaynerchuk once and a while.
April 7, 2009

rowland
uuuuuuuugh Gary I cant afford to do what you say.

lol you just got a 10 book deal and you giving away good ideas!

Ugh it “Montmorreny” sour cherry. geeze, you better get your bunz up to the Hudson Valley this summer and ill take you cherry picking.

qotd: no idea. breadfruit? jackfruit? Banana? mmmmm banana.
April 7, 2009

Veronica Raphael
The best way to check out the flavor of wine is to add cheese or chocolate. Good topic for a future show.
April 7, 2009

Peter
I think you better read the study that happened in Australia when they tried side by side some 30 year old screw cap and cork wine. They were the same wine and the consensus was that the wine under cork was old and leathery with some fruit flavors. The screw cap wine were clearly aged but had freshness that was missing in the cork wine. If I could remember where I read the article perhaps it was in Decanter. Drink good
April 7, 2009

Anthony L.
Thumbs down to the screw top.
April 7, 2009

John Farrin
QOTD: Google says it’s the Marula tree fruit Like we all didn’t know that little factoid You obviously need to get out more Gary.
April 7, 2009

Mr Beast
I loved the show. Having knowledgable guests really enhances the interaction, especially if the perspectives are different. Keep it up.
April 7, 2009

Paul in CT
Great show.

Very interesting debate regarding cork vs. screw top. Kudos to Plumpjack for taking the screwtop plunge. I can’t see how it could be a perfect seal. Soda has been going flat with screwtops for years. If carbonation can get out over time, then air can get in. It just may take 25 years to accomplish what cork can do in 7.

Whitehall Lane has been doing some pretty cool experimentation in this area. Have you seen the glass stopper that they used on the 2003 Reserve Cab? When we went to the tasting room, an assistant to the winemaker said that they were testing all kinds of materials that they believed would allow air to get in. Should continue to be an interesting debate.

QOTD – Not a clue. Won’t even pretend to know the answer.
April 7, 2009

Deborah
Great episode. Loved Liza. Loved your interaction.
Please add me FIRMLY to the cork team.
After spending two weeks in Portugal, and wondering through the awesome cork forests, I can’t imagine a world where screw tops replace cork.
Ecologically ALONE, we should be supporting cork. A renewable resource, cork forests help fight pollution, and provide habitate to many species.
Screw tops, on the other hand use resources and fossil fuels in their production. I’m also a supporter of the “Save Miguel” movement.
April 7, 2009

Jay
awesome episode. lol @ Gary’s response to the QOTD
April 7, 2009

F Jackie Martling
I tried to like this episode but man she has a lot of issues with wine. California (no), Oregon (no), Australia (no), Pinotage (no), Spain (no) There are exceptions! Corks (Yes!) Portugal (Yes!) Artisanal Jerky (Yes Yes!) I don’t get how someone with her experience in wine so easily dismisses entire wine regions.
April 7, 2009

M
QOTD: OH MY GOSH!! I work in a a wine shop and last week somebody told me about the fruit an elephant eats. I FORGET.

I have the 06 Petalos Bierzo in our cellar. I’ve been a fan of bierzo wine for a few years.

I had a great 05 Chehalem pinot noir that had a screw top. I like screw tops. I’m not romantic with the cork idea.