At our tasting last night, we had a Rousset Crozes-Hermitage/KermitLynchImports 2004. I noticed the top felt strange/grippy when I prepared to screw it. After it was removed, I examined it closer.
Both ends had a very thin coating of grippy-like silicone (I presume), about 1/32" thick. Only the ends, not the sides. It came right up to the edge of the sides. Not like it had been applied after the cork was stamped out, but more like the cork slab was painted with this silicone afore the cork was stamped out.
What's this cork all about?? To prevent air leakage thru the cork (not that any air does diffuse thru the cork)?? To prevent TCA contamination?? Anybody seen one of these before??
Curious Tom