Coravin - Model 5 Wine Preservation System - Graphite

Bottom Line Upfront: The Coravin Model Five Wine system is well thought out, simple to use, and an elegant way to significantly extend the amount of time that your favorite wines can last. The Model Five has helped me spend less time worrying about my wine’s life expectancy and oxidation level – and more time enjoying it with my friends and family. There are some drawbacks concerning having to purchase ongoing system consumables- such as having to re-purchase Argon Gas refills and screw top caps (if that applies) – that should be factored into if decision. Highlights for me: - Straightforward, easy to use right out of the box - Supplementary Coravin documentation & web based setup videos are excellent - Outstanding presentation and packaging of the Model 5 wine system & accessories Things I thought could use some attention: - While overall sturdy plastic construction is used throughout – it still feels a fragile in hand. - It would have been nice to see more “real” metal used throughout the design, especially in the sliding mechanism that the smart clamps glide up & down on - Potentially high continuous operating costs to replace “consumables” for some users. =========================================================================== Detailed Thoughts and Observations: =========================================================================== For the record, I have to say that the Coravin Model 5 wine preservation system made me question myself …. how did I ever get along without it before? The more I used it, the more clear it became that I should have purchased one a long while ago. As I initially unboxed it, I was impressed with the quality of packaging and thoughtfulness of both the Model Five's design and packaging aesthetics. Since I began using it, It has been a conversation starter from my guests whom have never seen one before. Personally, in my household, we go through 3-5 bottles of wine a week on average. It is usually a combination of red, white, or rosé wine. The types/varietals we purchase are usually based around how fast, and with with types of foods we will try to pair it with for the week and unfortunately it ends up consuming becomes a guessing game based on/over which ones we think we can most likely finish off in 3-4 days after opening them. This becomes even more of a factor if we are anticipating dinner guests or friends to enjoy a bottle with with as well. Enter the Coravin Model Five Wine Preservation System … Since we starting using the Model Five, we have been free to open as many bottles of any type/varietal of wines as we wanted without fear of oxidation ruining the taste and experience. This has highly increased our satisfaction of our normal wine enjoyment and has even saved us some money by not tossing out old oxidized wine we had forgotten about or didn't finish off in time. I think one of the best parts of the whole system is based around not having to remove the cork from the bottles. Instead, the system uses a needle to puncture through "natural" style cork. The needle does a create a small hole in the cork – as it is supposed to do – that seals up nicely after completely removing the system from the bottle to then use it on a different bottle. The documentation recommends removing the foil, but we had no issue using it to puncture through standard thickness foil caps as well. I imagine using it through the foil may have an impact on the sharpness/life of the needle – but that would come down to a cost vs convenience issue for each person in the end. Interestingly, there are actually 4 types of needles that can improve/enhance the effectiveness of the system – (fast pour needle, vintage needle, etc) depending of the type of cork/bottle you are trying to open. It is nice that the needles are fully removable and replaceable however they only include one “standard needle” to get you started. It would have been nice if they included an additional standard needle or a different type of needle to maximize life/expand the functionality of the system to get a little more value from your initial investment into the system. One of my initial concerns were centered around newer “screw cap type” bottles that are becoming increasing more popular out there. The Model 5 includes a single STANDARD “screw type” cap adapter for those bottles in the packaging as well. I specifically said "standard" because Coravin also has a "large" style screw cap adapter for larger bottles as well. The Coravin Model five comes with a single “standard” WHITE faced cap that fits the vast majority of bottles –and the black faced “Large” cap for the bottles are available for purchase as an additional accessory if you need them (but are not included). The Coravin “screw cap” is essentially a "twist- on" cap with a resealable center plastic valve. The cap is able to protect/last for up to 3 months on a bottle – OR – approximately 50 punctures from the needle, before the plastic centers will be rendered nonfunctional. If you frequently consume “screw cap” styled wine bottles – this should factor into your ongoing costs as well since you'll have to replace them more frequently. Another concern I had was concerning the use of the proprietary Argon Gas capsules. The Model Five includes 3 capsules in the box, and is expected to pour about 50 glasses of wine per each capsule. The gas capsules power the pouring function of the system while simultaneously preserving/protecting the wine inside the bottle as well. Much like the :screw cap" adapters, the more often you use the system - the more often you will need to replace the gas capsules. There has been no apparent impact to the flavor to any of our favorite wines - so far as we can tell. You can purchase multi-sized packs of capsules for the system to help save money, however this should still be taken into consideration into long term operating costs of Model Five as well. To date, the system has delivered noticeably longer life from the bottles that we opened and enjoyed - especially when compared to the period of time before we used the Model Five at all. The spout has made pouring from an individual bottle much easier, and in turn less wasteful, by not having any wine drip over the neck of the bottles as well. Coravin also offers an optional aeration accessory that attaches directly the Model Five’s spout for even more convince and enhancement of your wine (at an additional cost) that is worth considering if you truly want to have a seamless experience. =========================================================================== In Summary: =========================================================================== The Coravin Model Five is simple to use, decreases waste, adds elegance, and increases the value of the wine we enjoy at home. The Model 5 delivers on everything it is designed to do. From that perspective it earns 5 stars from me. It is definitely worth watching the "How to Use" and "set-up" videos on Coravin’s website to get the most functionality and understanding of the system. There is always room for improvement in any device or item – and in my opinion – I would say that that the majority of the improvements would be purely from an aesthetic point of view. The Model Five has such a nice Grey/Graphite color looks all business, and the mild metallic accents on handle/spout area give it just the right touch - however I am not crazy about shiny black plastic that is scratch prone on the “Corvin” logo panel on the side of the clamp unit. This is probably one of the reasons why they cover it with a plastic style sticker/protector (in addition to having a nice information/instructional graphic on it). The only real thing to thing to consider is additional costs of replacement supplies/consumables as you operate the unit moving forward. That being said, the additional costs are still "nominal" from my point of view – ESPECIALLY – when I take into account the level of freedom and increased enjoyment the we get from the wines that we drink on a regular basis at home.

What do you do when you open a bottle of wine and only finish ½? Do you drink the rest, or cork it and put it back in the fridge and hope to finish it in the next 24 hours. What about drinking a glass of red wine, while your partner drinks white. A typical bottle of 750ml cabernet or syrah or merlot or chardonnay or Moscato serves about 5 glasses? That is with typical pours. If you are the kind that drinks one glass of wine per day, with your meals, you are either having to open a new bottle, re-cork it and hope it seals, or do one of those wines bought in a box. The Coravin Model Five Wine Preservation System allows you to drink any wine, without pulling the cork. The Coravin system aims to solve the problem of wasted bottles. Wine Affectionadios like myself was thrilled to see this device carried by Best Buy. It is probably the solution to the problem of wasted pricey half-drunk bottles, or the overindulgence of wine in a short time. The device is rather simple, uses argon (a noble gas) in canisters (it’s kinda pricey to replace) to pressurize the bottle on the inside. There is a needle (careful) that is inserted through the cork (needs to be real cork, not the plastic ones). One press of the trigger sends argon gas through the bottle to pour you your wine. It’s kinda neat. The box also comes with a screw top for those screw-top bottles. In theory, once you have your pour, you can reseal the bottle back into the virgin state, from the time it was packed by the winemaker/bottler. Given the price, I was expecting more. I think my basic complaint with this device is that it does not have a one-way ‘check valve’. In my testing process, I started with the cheapest bottle of wine I could find (a $3.99 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon). The insertion process for the needle was flawless, and the initial pour was perfect, at a good speed. The wine, which really could have used some “decanting”, was taut in its initial pour. The insertion of Argon gas into the bottle did not color the bouquet. After several minutes, I decided to have another glass, and magically, the second round tasted infinitely better than the first virgin pour. That’s when I started to figure out what was going on. I switched to a cheap bottle of “Chardonnay” to observe what was happening. As long as the bottle is tilted, the argon stays inside the bottle and pressurizes the insides and the bottle pours. Once you set the bottle upright, the argon gas escapes. Now you’re introducing the atmosphere into it. So the concept of single pour on a virgin bottle with every pour is a faux as oxygen is getting into the bottle each time. If you leave the device on top, it’s going to continue to ‘decant’ in the bottle, albeit slowly compared to popping the cork. The other downside is that the device pour speeds drop as the bottle empties, and you need to give more argon to get a better slower pour. In the end, by the time you get to glass 3, you might as well pop the cork and pour it straight. So who is this for? If you want to sample different bottles (to see how your collection is doing), maybe something useful to do so. In fact, that is what I did. I had a few bottles of “Pedal To The Metal”, and I pulled one of the 2015’s to give it a test, to see how it fared in my cellar. Having tasted it, I proceeded to finish the bottle. This wasn’t a cheap bottle, and if I wanted to I could have put this $75 bottle back into the cellar after having a sip, but I decided to give pop the cork and finish the bottle after the 3rd glass. So the device does require some upkeep - between bottles I needed to rinse it, and the manual suggests more for sweeter wines. The device requires regular cleaning. Note the cleaning needle is part of the manual. I couldn’t find it until I was looking through the manual. It’s attached to the first few pages. The Coravin Model 5 comes with 3 argon canisters. Each canister is rated for about 15 shots. Given that you need at least 2 shots to get a decent pour, I believe my first canister is almost empty. The replacement canisters are about $25 for 3. Also, if you want a faster pour, Coravin does sell a slightly bigger needle, but I doubt it would make that much of a difference. So who is this for? I’d say specifically for the people with expensive collections that need to test their wine. But understand that good wine will require decanting, My experience with Bordeaux and other French wines, they need a bit of airing, and decanting is required. If you are drinking a cheap bottle or more than one glass just pop the cork. If you are going to try to preserve and elongate that special bottle going for all the special occasions. Then this might be the solution. Just remove the unit to reseal the cork after your first pour. Note that your cork condition would be depending on how you store it, and corks can dry out. Here is the thing. Wine is meant to be drunk. Even I came to that conclusion…. I think some of my pricey bottles need to get a taste test soon.

The Coravin Wine Preservation System is a very convenient (though pricy) way to preserve wine. Do you enjoy wine, but hate the fact that once you open a bottle, you have a very limited time to use it before it goes bad? Not everyone drinks wine frequently, and this prevents many from even buying it due to waste. The Coravin system allows you to enjoy even small amounts of wine at a time, while keeping the cork in the bottle and preserving the wine for weeks or even months, using gas. The Coravin Systems come in a variety of models (mine is a model 5) and can range from around $140 to over $300 depending on options that come with them, and what they are made of (plastic, metal, etc). My model 5 is a mixture of materials and would be considered mid-range. It came with the main pump unit, 3 gas capsules, a bottle cap, and wine bottle sleeve. Retail is just under $180 (approx) for this system. How it works: With only a few minor variations between models, most work relatively the same – you slide down the main body called the “clamp”, to semi-expose a long, thin, needle. You center the clamp area over your bottle of wine with the cork untouched, and push it down, so the needle goes into the bottle. There is a gas cartridge which you will have put into the handle. From there, you tilt your bottle over your glass, and quickly push and release a trigger. This releases a small amount of gas into the bottle (which does not damage or alter the taste), forcing a small amount out of the nozzle into your glass. You press and release the trigger as many times as you want to put the desired amount of wine into your glass. From there, you set your bottle back up, and pull the device up and out of it. The very tiny cork hole is sealed by the cork itself, and the gas that the cartridge put inside, not being air, will not allow the wine to spoil as if it had been actually opened. From here, you can restock your wine and repeat as often as you like, and your wine will last much longer than normal. A reusable pierceable screw cap is included if you wish to use this on another bottle (good for 50 piercings). It would take an extended period of time for me to judge how long this works, and I’ve only had the system a short amount of time, but so far, the wine I’ve tried it on DOES taste as fresh now as the first day I used the system. Others who have used it longer say it does indeed keep wine fresh a long time. So while this is to me, a pricy device, if you are someone who would like to enjoy wine more, but in extended moderation (or you wish to serve several types at one time at a party, etc without ruining several unfinished bottles), this may well be worth the price! My only complaint as mentioned – the price. While handy, I think it’s a bit overpriced, though over time it could save you money by preserving your wines. Also, some models come with an “aerator” attachment which aerates your wine as you pour it, quickly enhancing the flavor so you don’t have to leave the wine to breathe first before drinking. My model did not come with the attachment and it’s $70.00 (!!) bought separately – I think it should be included in ALL models. I do recommend this if you feel you need it and can justify the price. It WILL prevent waste.

Being that my wife and I are not huge wine drinkers, this product would be the perfect item for us. Just push the Coravin down over the wine bottle, tilt the bottle over your glass, then push the trigger button a few times to get the wine pouring out. Getting a glass of wine out of the bottle is really easy. When you are done pull the Coravin out and you are left with out a trace of anything happening (except less wine in the bottle). My main concern with using the Coravin comes down to the capsule cost. I haven't used it enough yet to get a full sense of how many glasses you get out of each glass. However, being that most of the bottles of wine we drink are usually in the $20 range, it may be hard to justify the use. I think if we want to spluge on a nice bottle of Caymus, I would definitely make use of it.

At first glance. This is a great idea. At second glance, this is a great idea! However, the truth is this really a niche product. If you love good, fresh glass of wine(red, white or both) this filtration system is awesome. Drink from literally, unopened bottles of wine. Straight through the cork. It takes a little time to siphon, but it keeps your wine fresh. But there's that price. It's gonna run ya a lil change. If you've already looked pass that, remember to pick up spare air cartridges. Your gonna run through one in two or so bottles. Other than that, I love it. Cheers!

Bought this to preserve opened wine and extend the shelf life a little. Disappointed. First, the pour rate is very slow. The needle through which the wine flows is thin, so even with the pressure applied by the gas cartridges, it takes a while to get a glass of wine. Second, you have to be somewhat careful with the needles. Get the alignment wrong, and you can bend/break the needle. Replacement needles are about $30 each. Third, we really could not tell any difference in the quality of the wine "preserved" with our Coravin. (I was a trained sommelier in Switzerland for a while and my wine tasting is more highly trained than most wine drinkers.) Overall, a disappointment to us.

got this as a housewarming gift for a wine loving friend, he likes it.

Bought as a gift. Friends likes it a lot. Easy to set up and use. Helps to not waste good wine. Will likely get one myself.