Pulling the cork from a bottle of wine and hearing its satisfying ‘pop’ is a pleasurable tradition, so I’m told. Getting at and removing a cork ought to be easy: just insert the corkscrew into the cork and pull. Instead, more often than not, I’m seeing the cork tear and crumble as I heave on the corkscrew. The cork seems out to frustrate our primary goal – drinking the contents of the bottle.
Corks work best when kept moist through contact with the wine – a horizontally stored bottle achieves this. But less than optimum bottle storage angles and temperatures, along with cheap chipboard-like corks made from waste cork crumbs stuck together, all allow the cork’s integrity to fail before it’s entirely removed from the bottle neck.
When this happens push the corkscrew back into the remains of the cork but at a shallow angle – as if you are trying to get the corkscrew through the cork and through the neck of the bottle. Then gently pull on the corkscrew so as not to create more cork crumb on the way.
Even if you’ve managed to remove the bigger bits of cork there will still be some crumbs left in the bottle – harmless but you don’t want to get them between your teeth – so pour the wine through a tea strainer or through a bit of kitchen towel or coffee filter. Messy but effective.
PG Wine Reviews
Lidl’s new wine selection are now in-store – here are a few to get you started.
Le Lys Mystique, French Blanc Sec 2015
£6.49 Lidl
Look for the dumpy shaped bottle and inside you’ll find creamy flavours of apple and melon.
Val de Salis French Chardonnay 2015
£5.99 Lidl
Aromas and flavours of tinned pears along with apples and almonds. Match to Thai coconut fish curry.
Tornal Hungarian Zenit 2016
Lovely light lemon and melon flavours which are best enjoyed at least an hour out of the fridge. Don’t serve too cold or you’ll miss all the fruitiness.
Chateau la Croix Haute French rosé
Think light red rather than rosé with its redcurrant and almond flavours.
Cimarosa Chilean Limited Edition Carmenere 2015
£6.99 Lidl
Quite a bit going on here with smoky cherry and blackberry flavours plus some liquorice and chocolate just for fun.
Vin de Bordeaux Chateau Guyon la Roseraie 2015
£5.99 Lidl
A light red but with enough backbone to keep up with a plate of nosh.
Tweet me a wine question @huxelrebe
© Paula Goddard 2017 www.paulagoddard.com
