Dick, Te Mata is a long established producer with a stellar reputation - their Coleraine (Bordeaux Blend); Elston (Chardonnay) & Bullnose (Syrah) all feature among NZ best in each of those varietal categories - so there is no doubting their credentials.
By co-incidence, I have recently spent two weeks in Hawkes Bay, and took the opportunity to again visit Te Mata, and had a couple of glasses with Nicholas Buck. (Mark Lipton and Ian Hoare will well remember our meeting with this impressive young man).
We discussed the subject of cork vs screw cap at some length.
Much of their thinking is summed up in the last sentence of this article
"It is a changing world in the area of wine closures in recent years, but we feel that we are offering the best closure for each wine style consistent with our experience and **knowledge to date**."
And that is the key - they are *not* happy with traditional corks and believe that the DIAM closure may offer the solution. Te Mata would infinitiely prefer to use cork (in their ageworthy wines) but simply cannot take the chance - it is like a lottery.
Please don't make the mistake of thinking that Oeneo's DIAM closure is cork - they themselve call it a closure; and they are also keeping their feet on both side of the fence - Oeneo also manufacture screwcap closures.
Just when does your first cheque arrive from the Lobby-for-Cork Institute ;-)
Obviously, he and Jacquie are very busy (in the quiet season) working in/on that little piece of paradise in the Correze before the tourist season starts again.
I do note he surfaces occasionally with his words of wit and wisdom.
To be accurate a direct quote from Temata web site is as follows:
"They are the new DIAM cork which is guaranteed to be free of cork taint. We have been very happy with the performance of screwcaps on our Woodthorpe and Rymer's Change wines during the last year. The screw cap closures remove any chance of corkiness and every bottle is identical because air is completely prevented from entering the bottle. We are yet to be convinced, however, that screwcaps are the ideal closure for longer term cellaring, particularly of red wines. "
Secondly St. Helier states:
"Please don't make the mistake of thinking that Oeneo's DIAM closure is cork - they themselve call it a closure; and they are also keeping their feet on both side of the fence - Oeneo also manufacture screwcap closures."
Diam Cork has a web site and this is a product made from cork.
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Their site indicates this starts with cork and they remove "Extraction of haloanisoles responsible for the phenomenon known as "cork taint" (releasable TCA, TeCA, PCA, TBA)"
Therefore this is cork or composite from cork.
I know you want to slam the cork industry but come on now...you can do it with fact instead of fiction can't you? :-)
(1) The name of the winery is Te Mata (I don't care if you take the piss out of me by deliberately spelling my name wrong - but the indigenous population of NZ are very particular about their language) and 100,000 of them live in the US. You know the sort - they are seeking out Mike Tyson for "stealing" their cultural heritage in copying their facial tattoos!! ;-)
(2) > To be accurate a direct quote from Temata web site is as follows:
So that everyone can see the article here is the link
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(3) The DIAM closure is reconstituted cork particle - not cork in the traditional sense.
(4) Contrary to what you think, or say, or express in this forum, *** I am not anti-cork*** - I am very discriminatory - I just slam any cork which adversely affects my wine!!!!!!!!
I don't give a damn about tradition. You have previously indicated that you are/have been in the food packaging business.
I'll bet you would not stand for any form of packaging which tainted even as little of 0.01% of your product, let alone 2% or 5% or more.
And one final point....I would be willing to try this product if I could find in USA even with its new closure.
Change is not always for the better. It sounds like Te Mata winery took their time, studied and realized that Stelvin and other srew caps are not the answer to quality reds that are long term keepers.
I applaud the fact that they studied it instead of listening to the few that are simply anti cork and pro stelvin.
Sorry....that is true however.
Mike Pronay and Ian would probably state Stelvin is the cure for TCA, Cancer, Heart and everything. I on the otherhand beleive the proof is in the pudding and there is not any doubt that the Plumpjack that I had the stelvin aged differently under Stelvin vs. Cork.
Will have to order from California. The local distributor in NC no longer is maintaining stock on this winery. They said it did not catch on here. Te Mata.
Found it in Southern Cal so I will order. Amazing the price here vs NZ. $49. US for Cab/Merlot.
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