WineXpert Clarify or Bottle Right Away

RandyB · Jun 23, 2009

WE Limited Edition South African Cab- due to various reasons, left the wine in the “Stabilizing and Clearing” stage for approx. 3 ½ weeks and now thought that I could skip the “Racking and Clarification” stage, as called for in the instructions and simply rack and add the K-Meta and bottle tomorrow. After racking and adding K-Meta, the new 6-gallon carboy is ½ inch below the shoulders on a 6-gallon carboy. Plus, the original carboy had about ½ inch of sediment and I managed to siphon some of it to the new Carboy. I shot a lot of “Private Preserve” gas into the new carboy and feel like I should let it Clarify some more.
So my question(s) are- can I trust the gas for other 7-days or should I us a “mini Vino” filter and bottle right away?
Still trying to bottle my 1<SUP>st</SUP> batch and have another 7 on the floor!
Thanks in advance,

smurfe · Jun 23, 2009

I would still rack it again. If you said you had it setting for 3-4 months I would say filter and bottle but you will be surprised what will fall out again particularly if you haven't de-gassed the wine yet.

RandyB · Jun 23, 2009

I probably wasn’t descriptive enough. Went through the Primary Fermentation, rack to Secondary Fermentation. Racked an added K-Meta, Sorbate and Isinglass then Degassed with an Aspirator. Let it sit for 3 ½ weeks.

Wade E · Jun 23, 2009

Definitely let it sit longer as it will still drop sediment after even fining is done, how do we know this because we have all bottled red wines too early in the past.

RandyB · Jun 23, 2009

Will the "Private Preserve" gas be enough, or should I top-off the carboy again while settling?

ASAI · Jun 23, 2009

The instructions as best I remember, say rack at least once after clarifying at 8 days. Based on my experience with this kit and general advice, I would reccomend racking at least once more after 2-4 weeks, then giving it at least 1 week more, before bottling.