Don’t Let Screwcaps Scare You
It used to be that a wine with a screw top was considered “cheap” and/or inferior to those stopped with corks. And though some studies suggest that wines tend to age better when a cork is used to seal a bottle, the truth is that the enclosure used has no effect on wines that will be opened and enjoyed within a year of bottling — and that accounts for at least 90% of all the wine consumed in the USA. Because of this, and the fact that screwcaps (a.k.a., stelvin enclosures) are simply more convenient and immune to “cork taint” (2,4,6-Trichloroanisole, or “TCA”), we are seeing many, many wine bottles that don’t require a corkscrew — at all price points, and for all quality levels.
A number of bottles in the Opici Wines portfolio are enclosed with screwcaps, and one of them — Due Torri Pinot Noir — was recently highlighted as #3 on Wisebread’s list of 10 Great Wines Under 10 Dollars:
Due Torri Pinot Noir 2009 (Italy)
Don’t be fooled by the screw top; this wine can compete with any of its corked counterparts. Dry and soft, this wine loves pesto or a rare steak. It has a velvety texture and an oaky finish that is perfectly balanced and easy going down. Though slightly higher in price, this wine is well worth the money.
Indeed, Due Torri Pinot Noir is one of the best bargains in Pinot Noir you’ll find, and it stays true to the varietal’s fresh and easygoing character. Due Torri is a secondary brand produced by Cesari — the winery best known for its fabulous Amarone wines.
