ArT Wine Preserver

I just received a sample in the mail over the weekend of ArT Wine Preserver from Ryan Frederickson to try and give my honest opinion. Argon gas has been used for years at Vineyard's and restaurant's for some time to preserve open bottles and prevent waste. Those systems can be costly to own where a small can that is ready to use in you home is a great idea. Over the next few weeks I will be trying this out with a bottle of 2015 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon as a test wine. I will give my conclusions in several weeks.
Cheers!
Lew Bailie
Fine Wines Gazette

ArT Wine Preserver Part 2

As I stated in my first article, I was asked by Ryan Frederickson to evaluate this product. I have no gain in doing so. I was supplied a sample to try.

It has been 2 weeks since I started using ArT18 in a bottle of nice Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon  a great Bottle of wine for the price. I sampled a glass after letting the bottle rest open for half an hour and promptly added 2 seconds of ArT 18 argon wine preservation system to the bottle and sealed it with the optional cork. All very easy.
The following week I poured a glass and it was every bit as fresh as the first day. I  added ArT again and enjoyed my second glass. I waited until week 2 to give it the big test and it did not let me down. I had 2 fresh glasses as nice as day one!  I'm going to stretch it a little and see how week 3 turns out. In my opinion "This stuff really works!" It will be part of my wine accessories collection for sure. There are many times that we open a bottle for a glass or two and find that it has lost its taste. No more!
The owner Ryan Frederickson decided to pursue a way that people at home could preserve their wines like big wineries and industry does without breaking the bank. If you only drink one or two glasses this will save you from dumping the bottle in a week or so or cooking with it. Argon is used by high-end wineries when bottling wine. ArT Wine Preservation is an argon wine preserver that allows you to spray that same gas to save your open bottle of wine. Argon is GRAS by the FDA,  tested as a safe preservation method.
More information can be found and you can purchase it directly at  ArT 18 Wine Preservation

Chateau Picque Caillou 2006

I have had this bottle for several years now and finally got around to opening it. I guess I was saving it for a special occasion. Well being settled in here in Florida is good enough. I cook a nice pork roast and veggies on the grill that complimented it perfectly.  Chateau Picque Caillou 2006 Grand Vin de Graves. Château Picque Caillou is located at the gates of the city of Bordeaux in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the Bordeaux vineyard’s historic cradle. Visit their site here  Château Picque Caillou A quote from their site "Once the very heart of the Bordeaux vineyard, the vines of the “Graves de Bordeaux” surrounded the city. Today, Picque Caillou remains one of the last bastions standing up to an all-consuming urban development that holds no respect for soils or history."   A close neighbor of the prestigious Haut-Brion and Pape Clément châteaux, this 21-hectare vineyard carries a name indicative of its pebbly soils that originated from sediments deposited by the nearby Garonne River over thousands of years. Château Picque Caillou Red makes up around 60-70% of the total production, i.e. 65,000 to 80,000 bottles delivered in wooden cases of 12 bottles. This vintage consists of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. All fruit is harvested by hand and aged 14 months in French oak barrels.

 Upon opening it I found the dreaded dry cork syndrome, my screwpull just wouldn't do it. I dug out my Butler's friend or "Ah-So" puller that finished the job. I used my poor man's decanter which I love, an old glass cool-aid pitcher. I decanted this dark delight and let it rest for 30 minutes while tending to my grilling chores.

 After pouring a glass, right away the color caught my eye. It was very dark almost inky. Not having an older Bordeaux in a while I forgot how beautiful it was. The color is what I can describe as a dark plum not clear at all.  The nose was earthy almost leathery. The taste was  of burnt smokey oak and dark fruit. As it sat it opened up to a wonderful berry chocolate and spice (clove-pepper), good mellow tannin's with a finish of which I haven't tasted in some time, dry and long-lasting dark fruit. The alcohol is 12.5  If stored properly it should be good for a few more years. It went fantastic with the pork roast and grilled eggplant, green onions and peppers. If you find it pick it up. I plan on looking for more of this vineyards vintages to see the differences. Cheers!!