Durand and old port corks

[Roy Hersh]

Today I received the response from Mark.

Unfortunately, it would be complicated to sell these outside of the USA. Those who may want one of the longer versions of the Durand, (from other countries) would have to have an American mule as partner.

There are ONLY 9 of these left, and please do not order more than one per person, so all the FTLOP'ers who mentioned wanting to purchase one, can!

The cost is the same as it ever was, $125.00 when paid by a credit card. They will be shipped free within the USA, along with tracking info.

IF the nine do sell out to FTLOP'ers here, there is the possibility that a small run production could be arranged, but it would take a couple of months for that to happen and get to the buyers. As they don't have a way to do so on their website, I suggest we see if the 9 that are left in stock, do sell through and if so; please use me as the central point of contact, so I can arrange with Mark, how many to produce. I have zero financial involvement in the Durand, but have promised Mark, that I'd keep this simple for him.

If you want one of the nine, please go ahead and make your purchase directly by email mark AT thedurand DOT com and Mark will be back in touch to arrange for your credit card payment, if you prefer not to send your info by email. Up to you. He will not ship prior to receiving payment though.

I hope those looking for the finest device for opening a bottle of Port will take advantage and order one of these nine!

[John Trombley]

Ordered mine today, and had a very nice chat with Mark, a pleasure.

John Trombley

[John Trombley]

Just received my new Long Durand (which is how it's appellated). Here are a couple pix of it compared with the Durand that I have had for a year or so. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE IS ANOTHER DIFFERENCE BESIDES THE LENGTH OF THE HELIX (Worm). The tines of the corkpuller ('Ah-So') portion of the Durand Long are ALSO LONGER. How this will affect performance one way or another I haven't the slightest idea but it could make a difference--it'd grasp the bottom of the cork more firmly, it seems. I have not yet had a chance to try the Durand Long, but will report to you what I find when I do!

A minor difference is that there is a longer cork magnetic carrying-case to accommodate the different dimensions.

Thanks to Roy for making this possible.

[Glenn E.]

Very interesting! Thanks for the pics, John!

[John Trombley]

I notice that I have a bottle of 1985 Taylor that I might be willing to sacrifice to the cause. Will ponder this and if possible open it and take some pix of the results.

Oh--and thanks to the board for allowing me to get my Long Durand first! Come'n get 'em!

[John Trombley]

Another photo, direct comparison of both the Durands, assembled for storage, out of the case:

[Eric Menchen]

In for one, and it is in the mail. What will I try it on first?

[John Trombley]

These photos against a ruler show that the difference in size of both the helix and the prongs are about one-quarter of an inch, although the curved prongs make an estimate necessary.

[Eric Menchen]

These photos against a ruler show that the difference in size of both the helix and the prongs are about one-quarter of an inch, although the curved prongs make an estimate necessary.

Mark warned me in an e-mail that the difference was just 1/4". But I've had many old corks just break off at the very bottom, so I think that extra 1/4" is worth trying. I still don't expect 100% results, but better than before. I opened a bunch of 1968 wines along with 1970 and a 1959 recently. About half of those corks broke apart with typical corkscrews. I didn't want to tong those bottles because I was double-decanting and serving blind.

[Bradley Bogdan]

Very cool, thanks for the pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkz. U

[John Trombley]

Anyone remember how long the corks are on the 1985 Taylor standard bottles?

[John Trombley]

These photos against a ruler show that the difference in size of both the helix and the prongs are about one-quarter of an inch, although the curved prongs make an estimate necessary.

Mark warned me in an e-mail that the difference was just 1/4". But I've had many old corks just break off at the very bottom, so I think that extra 1/4" is worth trying. I still don't expect 100% results, but better than before. I opened a bunch of 1968 wines along with 1970 and a 1959 recently. About half of those corks broke apart with typical corkscrews. I didn't want to tong those bottles because I was double-decanting and serving blind.

I'm sure that the extra 1/4 inch, especially since it's both the helix and the prongs, would have a good chance of giving a different result. Let's get out our Long Durands and try them!

By the way, the esthetics of the Long Durand are to my eye superior, as the whole thing looks to have better balance of design. Not that that means anything where the rubber meets the cork!

[Bradley Bogdan]

Not Port, but the one producer I'm positive would have an extra long cork for you to try it out on would be Gaja.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkz. U

[Andy Velebil]

Not Port, but the one producer I'm positive would have an extra long cork for you to try it out on would be Gaja.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkz. U

I was thinking Niepoort on their top end dry wines.

[John Trombley]

Just so happens that I'm all out of Gaja, anyone have one to lend me?

[John Trombley]

There's an extra reward when this sort of thing works well--a very nice example of a classic 1985 Taylor right out of the blocks.

Very easy to handle this Long Durand! Was careful, though, not to pull the bottom off the cork. There was a good perhaps 5/8 inch of helix protruding from the bottom, and the tines grabbed the cork very well. So this seems to work at least as well as the Classic Durand.

[Roy Hersh]

I have some Gajas left, all from 1997.

Having used the longer version of the Durand for a few years, early and often ... it will definitely help with that last smidge of cork that could break off on the rare cork, but usually due to someone trying to pull the very end of it out too quickly, instead of remaining slow and steady. The longer version eliminates this and the ONLY downside I've come across is that on super-tight / practically stuck corks, the longer worm and tines can make it really physically challenging. YMMV.

[John Trombley]

An excellent plus bottle was revealed by means of Roy's favorite tool.

Considerably 'tawnied up' cherry color. Broad arches. Violets, earth, a little medicinal or resinous, with light cherry notes, and a slight hint of vanilla on top; moves on to smoky bacon. Dense and delicate with slight heat, quite dry, with a crisp, slightly earthy finish, and a very nice Taylor corners-of-mouth experience. Tannins light or mostly resolved.

As it sits open in an Impitoyable, Bordeaux-like tobacco and thyme open in the nose, and liquorice and rumcake notes develop in the palate, and it becomes rich and expressively flavorful. 93/100. Shows how conservative at times, or just inexperienced, the Parker palate could be in assessing vintage porto early on (if i recall aright, this got a question mark 90).

[Roy Hersh]

So, were all 9 purchased?

[Glenn E.]

These photos against a ruler show that the difference in size of both the helix and the prongs are about one-quarter of an inch, although the curved prongs make an estimate necessary.

John, I can't read the lengths in the pictures. I guess my eyes just aren't as good as they used to be!

How long are the long corkscrew and the longer side of the new ah-so? I want to measure mine to see which I have.