Screw Cap Closures

With our 2000 vintage of Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon we began trialling the use of screw cap closures. For many years we have been frustrated with the high rate of cork taint and random bottle oxidation caused by the use of cork. We are now pleased that the standard of the screw cap product and the method of application will provide us with a much more consistent product than that we can provide when sealing with cork.

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Our program of using screw cap closures for Moss Wood wine continues and so far, we are very pleased with the results. Some readers may have been fortunate enough to attend tastings in Sydney and Melbourne, where we compared the same wine under cork and under screw cap but for those who haven’t, a brief explanation follows. Please note that these were not blind tastings.

In comparing Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon and the Ribbon Vale Vineyard Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, we found that the screw cap closed bottles are very consistent and taste virtually identical. On the other hand, cork-closed bottles vary enormously. This excludes bottles that were directly tainted by cork, which were rejected before each tasting. Bottle variation has been noted in the past but put down to causes other than cork taint. However, we are now very suspicious that many corks do not seal well at all and the wine under those corks is ageing far more quickly than it should.

Another interesting point is that after having tasted approximately 150 bottles of closures, cork and screw cap, there was only one cork bottle which was better than the screw cap. In every other instance, the screw cap was preferred. Occasionally, the cork bottles nearly matched the screw cap but mostly they were significantly lower in quality.

Research from the Australian Wine Research Institute suggests if a wine has ‘reduced’ i.e. it has hydrogen sulphide characters before bottling, it will become worse under screw cap. We are confident that our wines are unaffected by this.

Consumers are also supporting the new closure, to the point where only 30% of our wines will now be sealed using corks and these will be primarily destined for the more conservative export markets. Australian customers can still order cork-sealed wine if that is preferred but unless specified, all orders will be filled with screw caps. In the event of a customer specifically choosing cork-sealed bottles, we will not accept returns for leakers or tainted bottles.

For all their benefits, screw cap closures are not perfect and can leak if not applied correctly. If any of our products are found to have this problem, please contact the winery and we will exchange them.

Customers should also be aware that the screw cap is not pilfer or tamper-proof. Please ensure that the seal has not been broken before purchasing a bottle. In addition, when buying a wine in a restaurant, the customer must insist that it be opened at the table. This guards against receiving a damaged bottle.

For those who enjoy the romance of wine, one final point regarding the purchase of a screw cap closed wine in a restaurant. While the wine will not be cork tainted, customers should insist that the sommelier allow them to taste before accepting the bottle as it may not be perfect for other reasons. These would include damage during transport or improper storage.