If it’s rubber and not natural "cork" you can try to pu in or even cut it with a long paring knife. Be careful! (39 replies, last updated by crw77 June 17, 2009)

I opened a bottle of red wine last night and found a dark red/black grainy gunk all over the bottom of the cork and around the neck of the bottle. It looked sort of crystalized on the bottom of the cork, like black salt crystals.... (11 replies, last updated by amwf February 17, 2007)

I installed cork floors in my kitchen 2 years ago when I wasn’t able to refinish the room’s orginal woods floors, which were badly damaged. I thought cork would offer some of the benefits of wood, and it does. Cork is... (31 replies, last updated by kchurchill5 June 17, 2009)

. It seems to happen about 4-10% of the time with natural corks, depending on whose data you read. I’ve seen reps (usually at the distribution, or retail levels), who open bottles and just pour. They should all smell, and... (18 replies, last updated by maria lorraine March 30, 2008)

Haven’t been documenting it but my WAG for recently purchased wines sealed with natural cork is similar to or a little less than yours. The corked rate is definitely higher for wines from my cellar, i.e. purchased 10 or 20... (47 replies, last updated by oolah May 14, 2007)

works in the largest wine store in NYS and she tells me they get more bad bottles returned that had natural corks as opposed to the synthetic ones. I suggested that may have been because the wines were not stored on their sides... (7 replies, last updated by the rogue December 10, 2002)

Let’s presume — as I am — that this was an accident. A screwcap-ed bottle will certainly have a screwcap on it, but a bottle that is SUPPOSED to be sealed with a cork (natural or synthetic) can go through the... (15 replies, last updated by zin1953 January 8, 2007)

Basically it’s rotten wine. Corks are natural material and hence can spoil and let air in and ruin a bottle of wine. —Dommy! (42 replies, last updated by susancinsf October 23, 2006)

My guess: If the wine had been stored for a while in a warm location and then chilled shortly before opening, a vacuum would have been created. Since corks are not completely airtight, nature would eventually eliminate the... (5 replies, last updated by Sam B March 22, 2007)

was in British Columbia last year, I observed that a number of premium British Columbian wines had plastic seals instead of natural cork stoppers. There is, however, considerable consumer resistence to plastic seals and screw... (38 replies, last updated by Tom Armitage September 17, 1999)

wine. I am a little annoyed that this winery went to screw top. I understand the flaws of natural cork but I am willing to live with them. If a winery insists on not using natural cork then I would prefer a synthetic cork with a... (89 replies, last updated by Bill Hunt October 8, 2009)

-tainted wines seem dry, even though I had the bottles stored on their sides. The color at the “wet-end” of the cork also seems to be grey, not the natural cork color. This has not happened in all cases, but enough... (52 replies, last updated by Bill Hunt July 15, 2007)

maria lorraine, this should be a separate topic (which I just may start) but I would presume that your cork vs stelvin experience with Le Cigare Volant would put you in the camp of those who feel there is enough oxygen exchange... (15 replies, last updated by alkapal February 18, 2008)

and bottom of gadget together and turn the knob on top until the cork pops out. Done. Ours at least seems to work equally well on natural corks and the plastic ones. Kind of a slow and steady wins the race solution, as I’m... (16 replies, last updated by currymouth February 7, 2008)

’s Premier Cru offerings. Price unknown; currently sells online for $125-225. 13% alcohol. Natural cork. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL. Gevrey-Chembertin Premier Cru “Aux Combottes” Vieilles Vignes, Jacky... (0 replies, last updated by David McDuff June 1, 2008)