Foil Bottle Caps

[cdrmiller]

I notice that even on first growth Bordeaux wines the foil cap is sometimes loose, i.e. can be turned. Does the foil cap serve any real function, and does a loose one indicate that the bottle might best be avoided?

[Randy Caparoso]

Foils are basically there to keep the top of the bottles and corks from getty all yucky. Of course, if you age a wine a long time in damp, moldy cellars, it gets yucky anyway. Secondly, it looks good on the bottle.

If it looks loose, it's really not an indication of anything except a sloppy bottling machine. It's what's inside, and the reputation of the producer, that counts more.

But if you feel funny about the way a bottle looks -- like it's been mishandled during transport (especially if there's indications of wine leaking out!) -- then by all means, don't buy it. Look for something cleaner and "safer."

[cdrmiller]

Thanks Randy,

I'm sitting in the airlines lounge in Seoul Korea and had just been to the duty free shop where they had a number of bottles of 1976 Lafite. About 75% of them had foils which turned easily and I didn't want to plunk down big bucks for something that was likely to be bad.

cdrmiller

[Randy Caparoso]

Those bottles are screaming "fake!" Lots and lots of it being done these days with the premier grand crus... it's wise to steer clear. Besides, the '76 Lafite is waa-aay over the hill. Should've been all drunk by '86.



[This message has been edited by Randy Caparoso (edited 03-29-2002).]

[cdrmiller]

Randy,

Thanks again!!

cdrmiller

[Thomas]

Some joker came into my store recently with a couple of bottles of 76 Lafite and some other "famous" label. He said he got them from a guy who was down on his luck and he thought maybe I would like to buy them to add prestige to my shelves. After informaing him that he was in violation of the law by trying to sell wine without a license, I informed him that I gave up my membership in the stupid retailer club the day I threw out all my copies of the WS--and then I threw him out.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 03-30-2002).]

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 03-30-2002).]

[winoweenie]

ADD PRESTIGE!!!! Wuz youse gonna' be able to sell them suckers for 20 bucks? WW