Dirt brown lees

[skyfire322]

I just did the final racking on my Riesling which has been bulk aging for nine months, and noticed that the lees was dirt brown in color. The wine tastes and smells okay, but I just haven't seen that before. Any cause for concern?

 

[Johnd]

Lots of white wines have lees that look like that. The must is normally a dirty looking brownish mess, lees drop, leaving a beautiful wine behind.

 

[skyfire322]

Lots of white wines have lees that look like that. The must is normally a dirty looking brownish mess, lees drop, leaving a beautiful wine behind.

Thanks Really the only color I've seen with whites has been cream. Just for my curiosity, I assume the color of lees is darker the longer its aged?

 

[Johnd]

Thanks Really the only color I've seen with whites has been cream. Just for my curiosity, I assume the color of lees is darker the longer its aged?

Can’t really say I’ve ever paid attention to the changes in lees color, usually more focused on the color / clarity of the wine.

 

[balatonwine]

It might have been oxidized. Check the SO2 content of your wine.

 

[stickman]

Most likely the must had some oxygen exposure, usually a positive thing, causing some of the phenolic material to turn brown which then drops out during and after fermentation.