Coravin Model One Wine System, Blue/White

The Coravin Model One Wine System is the Third Iteration model from Coravin (along with the model 2 Elite which is also new this year). This Model One is the least of expensive of all the Coravins, but it does exactly the same thing as the other costlier models. If you opt for this model, you are not giving up on any functionality at all so far as I can tell. It just looks different and feels different, the most obvious differences being the color scheme and that fact that it is made almost entirely of plastic (the model 2 is also mostly plastic, but with nicer finishes) That is not to say that it feels “cheap”, in fact it seems pretty durable. The levers and parts that are handled during operation are texurized (the blue parts), and the plastic used seems of good quality and strength. It is a bit lighter than the other models and for that reason just feels easier to use somehow. Its size is just a little bit bulkier than the others.

*Highlights, Pros & Cons

>Pros<

-UNIQUE: One of a kind device to extract wine from it’s bottle WITHOUT removing the cork.

-SIMPLE to use: Insert syringe-like hollow needle through the cork, pressurize and pour wine out through needle, remove needle and the cork reseals itself.

-COST SAVINGS BENEFIT: Waste less wine when you cannot drink a full bottle within a short period.

-DIVERSIFY your wine drinking: Freedom to sample more and different wines, costlier wines, etc. without fear of waste.

-Collectors and Aficionados: Makes the impossible, possible. Sample and test aging and cellared wines at different times as desired without opening bottle (with a caveat, see cons). Spread out the time period in which you enjoy special wines.

– “Budget Model”- This is the least expensive Coravin but you do not lose any functionality over the other models.

>Cons<

-Coravin system uses PROPRIETARY Argon capsules which are priced at a premium.

-BUILD QUALITY of this model is a bit reduced from the other models (see differences below), although ergonomics is improved over the original (Model 8).

-There is NOT a 100% success rate of corks resealing, making use a bit of a gamble sometimes. I have had some older bottles not reseal and the wine oxidized within days. Successful preservation of wine is highly dependant on the age, condition and health of the corks.

*In Depth Review*

On The Concept

This unique new product introduces a new phrase to the lexicon of wine drinkers. With the Coravin Wine System, I will usually no longer be opening bottles of wine, but instead “accessing” wine from my bottles.

This is a good device for me because I am the only wine drinker in my household. I am not a wine aficionado or a character from the film “Sideways”, but I do enjoy and appreciate a good glass of wine at least two or three times a week, (especially with a meal). I can’t remember exactly how many partially full bottles of stale wine were dumped down my kitchen sink, but it was an awful lot. I just don’t drink all that much at a time, and often several days will pass between glasses. Even with the $20-$40 or so bottles that I normally buy, that is a lot of money poured down the drain. Of course the proprietary Coravin argon capsules cost $10 each which puts the cost of use at about $2.50 per bottle, but it is still cost effective even with a $20 or so bottle of wine. I find though that now that I own the Coravin, I feel the freedom to sometimes indulge in better, pricier wines without fear of them going to waste.

Of course the Coravin isn’t aimed only at someone like me as its target consumer. The much more serious wine drinker and collector would probably appreciate this system even more so. I don’t have more than a few bottles of wine in storage that I am cellaring or saving for a special occasion. But if I did, I certainly would love the opportunity to sample or enjoy them on more than just one day or occasion. That is something that is only made possible by the Coravin. In that regard, it does open up a whole new world and new way of collecting and drinking finer wines.

Impressions and Usage

The price point here is more reasonable than the other Coravins. I think it was wise to make the system more accessible to people. Of course there is still a bit of premium placed on the fact that this is a unique, one of a kind product, (especially the capsules), but this will likely be viewed as a welcome step by many interested consumers. The lever and moving parts all feel decently tight and function smoothly. It also looks pretty good and is intriguing enough that it is almost certain to arouse the curiosity of those who see it and are unaware of what it is (which will probably be most people).

In my intial experience with the Coravin system, I found operation to be simpler than I expected and it was clearly described and illustrated in the accompanying guide. You simply “clip” the Coravin onto the neck of the wine bottle and press the extraction needle into and through the cork. Briefly depress the gas lever to pressurize the bottle a bit. Now you are ready to extract, and that is done simply by pouring the wine through the hollow needle and out of the spout. As you pour, you will periodically depress and release the argon gas lever (just briefly and in short bursts, especially when the bottle is still full) to displace the air and wine in the bottle with the gas. Whenever the wine stops flowing out, you just let a little more gas in to resume the flowing. Simple and easy. The wine flows when you release the lever, not while you are pressing it. This is counter-intuitive at first, but you quickly get the hang of it, as well as get familiar with how long to press and hold. It’s always safer to press too short than too long, since you can always press it again to get more wine flowing,

This Coravin comes with the device itself, two argon capsules and a wine sleeve. It is recommended out of an abundance of caution that the wine sleeve be placed on the bottle that you are tapping, just in case there is an unseen defect or crack in the bottle, in which case the pressure of the argon gas could cause it to break apart. I imagine that this is an extremely rare occurrence, and I have not used it except at first. It does not come with a stand, but it does not really need one since it can stand on it’s own.

Summary

Since using the Coravin, I have begun enjoying wine more, enjoying wine more often, and buying better wines. I have learned, however, to be very careful about using the Coravin on older and potentially delicate wines/corks, since there is a possibility that they will not reseal properly and become oxidized. The major caveat, and it bears repeating, is that successful preservation of wine is highly dependant on the age, condition and health of the cork.

Also, the construction feels pretty shoddy. For hundreds of dollars, the materials could be better.

It is the only device on the market that can allow you to drink a glass from a bottle without spoiling it, so…