Has anybody found an easier way ...

[Roy Hersh]

to remove wax capsules?

I am finally opening up one of the bottles from my last case of 1983 Cockburn's. for me, please; as to add insult to injury, is the pita to open the wax capsule. So I think it would be best just to open it with a Port tongs. But if anyone out there has a better and less messy way to break off the hardened wax capsule, please do share.

[Peter W. Meek]

You mean you don't like hacking away at the wax, dulling your good knife on the bottle neck, spraying hard to clean up bits of wax everywhere, dagging yourself with the knife a couple of times, and not quite getting it all of so some falls into the port? What are you? Some kind of wuss?

If you decide on the tongs, this might be the time to try the horizontal tongs. I think the verticals might set the wax on fire.

[Roy Hersh]

While waiting for some responses to the wax capsule removal part to the thread, I'll report on the 1983. It was tonged, by my daughter. At a half hour into the decant time, the nose still smells beautiful and no signs of TCA. I had to be a pessimist but I've been surprised at 5 hours in the past, when out of the blue and all of a sudden the tainted aromatics were clearly present.

So all I can do is wait and hope ... or drink right now.

I will take a glass now, so even if it winds up with a negative outcome, I'll have enjoyed one glass early.

[Roy Hersh]

Peter,

I use the metal handle on the back side of a steak knife which has the requisite weight to simply spray the dust and pieces of wax everywhere, without harm to myself. Anybody ever tried a torch?

[Derek T.]

Anybody ever tried a torch?

You can't hold a torch and the bottle and hack the wax off at the same time unless you have three hands Why not just turn the light on in the room so that you can see what you are doing?

I'm with Peter. Spreading shards of old wax all over the kitchen is the best way to go

...or, if you're scared of The Wife, stand the bottle up in a thin plastic bag - like the ones you get from a supermarket. Tie the top of the bag so that the bottle is fully enclosed but upright and loose inside the bag. Gently bash the top of the bottle and around the top of the neck using the heavy end of a closed Waiter's Friend corkscrew. Untie the bag, lift out the bottle and throw the bag with all the bits of wax in the bin (trash-can).

Derek

[Frederick Blais]

I don't bother removing the wax. I simply drive the corkscrew directly in the wax capsule and gently remove the cork. When the cork is almost out, I peel the surrounding wax and crumbles to make sure none goes in the bottle then I remove the cork.

I love wax, but not the solid ones. A good example is Leroy in Burgundy, they put wax but its soft and can be removed easily with a knife and no mess behind.

[Andy Velebil]

So all I can do is wait and hope ... or drink right now.

I will take a glass now, so even if it winds up with a negative outcome, I'll have enjoyed one glass early.

Drink it all now! History has shown at about 5-6 hours of decant it will smell horrible, you will get angry, want to kill someone, say a few bad words, then you'll find comfort in another bottle from your cellar.

but I do hope it is one of the very few bottles that isn't TCA tainted.

[Glenn E.]

History has shown at about 5-6 hours of decant it will smell horrible, you will get angry, want to kill someone, say a few bad words, then you'll find comfort in another bottle from your cellar.

but I do hope it is one of the very few bottles that isn't TCA tainted.

As do I! But if it is infected, give me a call and I'll try it. I like the 1983 Cockburn, TCA or not (since I can't smell the TCA anyway).

Not exactly what I would have picked to be my superpower, but I guess we just have to make the best of whatever we get!

[Roy Hersh]

Drink it all now! History has shown at about 5-6 hours of decant it will smell horrible, you will get angry, want to kill someone, say a few bad words, then you'll find comfort in another bottle from your cellar.

but I do hope it is one of the very few bottles that isn't TCA tainted.

Praise the lord.

Seven and a quarter hours in and finally, after 8 bottles spanning nearly 5 years, I have come across another excellent bottle of 1983 Cockburn's. Andy's post was spot on in terms of how upsetting this bottling can be. Fortunately, I have been a very happy camper. One four ounce pour in front of me now, after sipping the majority of the bottle, it is such a fun feeling to have a good bottle. I saved about 5 ounces for tomorrow which will be had in 2 distinct day parts to meaure its full showing.

[Eric Menchen]

If you decide on the tongs, this might be the time to try the horizontal tongs. I think the verticals might set the wax on fire.

My horizontal tongs have a bit of wax on them from the last bottle. I figure it will melt off with the next heating, but I should be conscious of where I do that.

I was thinking plasma cutter.

[Moses Botbol]

On dry wines, I'll put the corkscrew right through the wax. Not sure if I tried that on port as getting the cork out is a feat even without a capsole.

I just plane the top and get the wax off with a knife or use the tongs. Only thing with the tongs is if they touch the wax it smells awful!

[Roy Hersh]

Moses,

Yes that is one bitter and lingering smell to say the least.

I still would love to find a way to do this successfully (sans Port tongs).