The Durand was invented by wine collector Mark Taylor and named for the sommelier Yves Durand. It is a fully patented, two-part device: a helix (the worm of a conventional corkscrew) works in combination with a two-pronged Ah-So style blade assembly, joined by a stabilizer bar and handle.
The problem it solves is specific. Decades in the bottle leave corks dried, swollen or structurally compromised, and a standard worm will split or push through them. The Durand's blades slide down between the cork and the glass first, gripping the cork's sides, and the helix then screws into the cork so the whole thing can be drawn out intact. It is designed for older, fragile or compromised corks, and the maker is explicit that it is not a general-purpose corkscrew.
For the collector, it earns its place on the occasions when a bottle cannot be replaced: a 1982 Bordeaux, a mature Barolo, a vintage Port. Standard UPS shipping is free in the continental USA, and the device is listed at USD 145.00 through the maker's shop at thedurand.com.
