Tom,
I used the 1 3/4" supremecorq and 1 3/4" naturals as controls; the
supremecorq lost on average, 12 PPM more than the natural controls,
worst case was 18 PPM. That number stayed constant over the 5 years,
I did not test the first one until 3 months. It was a Chenin Blanc,
all the same lot, 25 bottles. (I used titrettes, I know a lot of
people prefer aspiration techniques, but it was a white and the same
method was used on both...) Worst side effect was more browning,
(deeper tint of yellow), probably due to the lack of SO2. That was
noticable to me at around 3 years, more pronounced at 5. (I am no
expert...)

I don't have a vacuum corker, that's what supremecorq suggests to get
around this. My headspace was between 1/2" and 3/4", I drove the air
in just like I do with a natural. Sparging with inert gas may help
this too. To be honest, if I used these I would use the 1 1/2"'s;
there is no good reason to waste the plastic and the longer ones look
a little goofy in a burgundy bottle, they do not expand enough at the
base...

I know Bully Hill quit using them a few years back, but they were
upset with the extraction force. Supremecorq had changed from using a
screen printing ink to a laser applied toner and the toner absorbed
all of the lube; Bully Hill was stuck with 2 million corq's that were
nothing but aggravation and fighting with Sumpremcorq at the time. (I
forget whether they made it right or not, to be honest.) Supremecorq
wants them used as shipped; no washing or wetting, they want that lube
to stay in place.

Who is NuCorq? I'll look them up. I like the look of these
Nomacorq'a I'm playing around at now. I have some in bottle close to a
year so I guess it's time to look them over soon.

Hope that helps.
Best regards,
Joe



"Tom S" > wrote in message .com>...
> "Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
> m...
> > I tested Supremecorq and liked them, with the qualification you should
> > bump your SO2 at least 10 PPM. I lost that within 3 months, but it
> > stayed constant over 5 years.
>
> Joe -
>
> Just so that I'm clear on what you said above, does that mean that the free
> SO2 dropped 10 ppm initially and no farther after that, holding steady for 5
> years? I'm considering using Supremecorqs on my wine this year.
>
> One of the others I've looked at is NuCorq. The data I've seen on SO2
> retention for them is good, but the strong wording of the disclaimer on
> their website has me worried.
>
> I agree that the price of natural corks is ridiculous, but 'taint my primary
> motivation from moving away from them. ;^)
>
> Tom S