Are screwcaps as good as corks?
Yes! Screwcaps avoid the problem of TCA (see previous question). An increasing number of producers recognise this, and use screwcaps even for their most expensive wines; indeed, a few producers (mostly in the New World) use screwcaps for all their wine. There is a question mark about one aspect of screwcaps: their efficient exclusion of outside air through the tight seal created by the cap’s plastic liner. Some people think outside air is crucial in wines designed for long ageing. And others think that total exclusion of air may lead to what are called ‘reductive’ flavours – don’t ask, it’s too complicated even for me. But these doubts are dismissed by many, and more important: the ageing questions apply only to a tiny percentage of the wines sold. You don’t have anything to worry about if you’re planning to drink the wine soon after purchase.
