A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

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Roy Hersh
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A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Roy Hersh »

While I hate to open a bottle that is spoiled with TCA -- "corked" -- I am still a supporter of real cork. Nonetheless, I found this to be an interesting read on the current state of the alternatives for wine closures. Enjoy the read:

https://www.fix.com/blog/alternative-wine-closures/
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Glenn E.
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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Glenn E. »

Cork is also susceptible to trichloroanisole (TCA), bacteria that can ruin a wine, dulling its flavors and giving it unpleasant off-odors (commonly known as cork taint).
A bit of a nitpick, but TCA is a chemical produced by treating a fungus with cholorinated compounds, not a bacteria.
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John M.
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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by John M. »

No one ever mentions the fact that the non-cork ones all require the wine coming in contact with plastic or resins over a protracted period (that is if laid down).
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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Moses Botbol »

I'd like to see a producer and roll the dice with a percentage of their vintage or lbv done in screw caps. Has this been done before? I can't recall any port of note with a screw cap except Fairbanks [dash1.gif]
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Bradley Bogdan
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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Bradley Bogdan »

Glenn E. wrote:
Cork is also susceptible to trichloroanisole (TCA), bacteria that can ruin a wine, dulling its flavors and giving it unpleasant off-odors (commonly known as cork taint).
A bit of a nitpick, but TCA is a chemical produced by treating a fungus with cholorinated compounds, not a bacteria.
It can also be produced by certain funky bacteria, but you're totally correct that that's not the issue in wine corks.


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Bradley Bogdan
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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Bradley Bogdan »

Moses Botbol wrote:I'd like to see a producer and roll the dice with a percentage of their vintage or lbv done in screw caps. Has this been done before? I can't recall any port of note with a screw cap except Fairbanks [dash1.gif]
I could be wrong, but I recall previously that came up here and it's a matter of IDVP law at the moment in the Douro. You're just not allowed to bottle under screwcap for Port, IIRC.


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Re: A Primer on Alternative Wine Closures

Post by Andy Velebil »

Bradley Bogdan wrote:
Moses Botbol wrote:I'd like to see a producer and roll the dice with a percentage of their vintage or lbv done in screw caps. Has this been done before? I can't recall any port of note with a screw cap except Fairbanks [dash1.gif]
I could be wrong, but I recall previously that came up here and it's a matter of IDVP law at the moment in the Douro. You're just not allowed to bottle under screwcap for Port, IIRC.


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Didn't Champalimaud use screw caps or synthetic corks at some point? For some reason that seems to be popping into my mind but I can't recall exactly.
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