Unique wine flavor protector

Abstract

A stopper for use in a substantially cylindrical bottle opening is disclosed. The stopper is made of a natural cork body with a polymeric portion to prevent flavor scalping and seal the bottle opening. The stopper of the present invention is designed to enhance traditional bark corks in wine bottles. The stopper of the present invention reduces flavor scalping, water and ethanol permeation, and TCA permeation associated with traditional corks, and results in excellent Wine Protection Factor ratings. The method of producing a stopper for use in a substantially cylindrical bottle opening is also disclosed

1 . A stopper comprising:
 a) a body having at least one end suited to close a container opening; and   b) a polymer portion comprising at least one fluoropolymer disposed on said at least one end, wherein the stopper is adapted to conform to and seal said container opening.   
   
   
       2 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion further comprises at least one aroma barrier layer. 
   
   
       3 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer is a water and ethanol barrier 
   
   
       4 . The stopper of  claim 3  wherein the polymer portion is a multi-layer barrier film further comprising a fluoropolymer tie layer bonding the water and ethanol barrier layer to an aroma barrier layer. 
   
   
       5 . The stopper of  claim 2  further comprising an adhesive layer joining the aroma barrier layer to the stopper body. 
   
   
       6 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of cork. 
   
   
       7 . The stopper of  claim 3 , wherein the water and ethylene barrier layer comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene. 
   
   
       8 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the aroma barrier is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer film. 
   
   
       9 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the aroma barrier is a polyvinylidine chloride. 
   
   
       10 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the aroma barrier is a polypropylene. 
   
   
       11 . The stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the aroma barrier is bonded to the PTFE. 
   
   
       12 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion is adhered to the at least one end and a portion of the body. 
   
   
       13 . The stopper of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer portion is adhered to the entire face of at least one end. 
   
   
       14 . The stopper of  claim 13  wherein the perimeter of the polymer portion is adhered to the body. 
   
   
       15 . The stopper of  claim 14  wherein the polymer portion is only adhered to a side of the body. 
   
   
       16 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a flavor scalp factor of less than 2.0 and a daily water permeation factor of less than 6.0 g/m 2  per mm thickness. 
   
   
       17 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a flavor scalp factor of less than 2.0 and a TCA permeation factor of less than 4.0 percent. 
   
   
       18 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a daily water permeation factor of less than 6.0 g/m 2  per mm thickness and a TCA permeation factor of less than 4.0 percent. 
   
   
       19 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a Wine Protection Factor of greater than 5. 
   
   
       20 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a Wine Protection Factor of greater than 20. 
   
   
       21 . A stopper comprising a cork body having a Wine Protection Factor of greater than forty. 
   
   
       22 . The stopper of  claim 2 , wherein the aroma barrier layer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol. 
   
   
       23 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the Wine Protection Factor is greater than 5. 
   
   
       24 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the Wine Protection Factor is greater than 15. 
   
   
       25 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the Wine Protection Factor is greater than 20. 
   
   
       26 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the Wine Protection Factor is greater than 40. 
   
   
       27 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion is transparent. 
   
   
       28 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion is less than 0.035 mm in thickness. 
   
   
       29 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion has a scalping percentage for eH of less than 0.9. 
   
   
       30 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion has a scalping percentage for eO of less than 0.9. 
   
   
       31 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion has a scalping percentage for eD of less than 3.0. 
   
   
       32 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion has a scalping percentage for D of less than 0.9. 
   
   
       33 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion has a scalping percentage for BI of less than 2.0. 
   
   
       34 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric portion covers a distance of greater than 2 mm on the cylindrical body. 
   
   
       35 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion has a thickness of less than 60 microns across the entire polymer portion. 
   
   
       36 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion has a Wine Protection Factor greater than 20 and a thickness of less than 60 microns across the entire polymer portion. 
   
   
       37 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion extends past the sealing end over the cylindrical body side for a distance of greater than 1 mm. 
   
   
       38 . The stopper of  claim 2 , wherein the aroma barrier layer comprises polychlorotrifluoroethylene. 
   
   
       39 . A stopper comprising:
 a) a cork body having at least one end suited to close a container opening; and   b) a multi-layered polymer portion comprising at least one polytetrafluoroethylene layer and at least one ethylene vinyl alcohol based layer covering said at least one end, wherein the stopper is adapted to conform to and seal said container opening.   
   
   
       40 . A stopper comprising:
 a) a cork body having at least one end suited to close a container opening; and   b) a polymer portion comprising polychlorotrifluoroethylene disposed on said at least one end, wherein the stopper is adapted to conform to and seal said container opening.   
   
   
       41 . A stopper comprising:
 a) a cork body having at least one end suited to close a container opening; and   b) a multi-layered polymer portion comprising PTFE and ethylene vinyl alcohol disposed on said at least one end, wherein the stopper is adapted to conform to and seal said container opening.