I bottled about half a batch of dewberry using them several years ago. I
did not feel that the wine aged the same in these bottles as it did under
cork. After two years it seemed to have the same taste that it did when I
first bottled while the wine under cork had mellowed. After 4 years they
oxidized so they did not protect forever. The rings did not dry out or
crack but the air did get through them given enough time. Do use new rings.
They are cheap.

Ray

"Jethro" > wrote in message
news:JJh9c.36043$cx5.18682@fed1read04...
> Any reason why I could not use swing top bottles instead of corks?
>
>