WineXpert Help Chocolate Raspberry Port problem

[Sammyk]

Ok so it is day 9 and the port is in 3 1-gallon carboys. We do not have a 3 gallon carboy because of the weight and physical lifting problems we both have.

The SG is 1.000 and if it is the same tomorrow it is step 3 stabilizing and clearing.

There is sediment on the bottom of each carboy because it was racked from a bucket after stirring. And from the recipe it appears that they want you to rack the oak chips (which was actually a dust and not chips).

What we need to know and what we would like to do is rack to the primary pail and stabilize and then rack back to 3 1-gallon carboys.

Other option is to divide the stabilizer into 3rds to go into each carboy.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wade E]

You can rack into primary bucket, clean the carboys and then right back to glass no problem. I hope you meant rack OFF the oak as Im pretty sure you dont transfer the oak over. They may want you to keep all the sediment though as some of the fining agents they use require all the sediment to do its job properly. Im glad to see you got this kit fermented all the way down!!!!

 

[Sammyk]

Yes I meant rack off the oak.

The problem I have is the instructions that say:

NOTE Do NOT rack the wine before stabilizing and clearing. Selection Speciale kits require the sediment to be stirred back into suspension. Racking the wine off of the sediment prior to fining may permanently prevent clearing. Please be sure to stir all of the sediment from the bottom.

So in that case maybe I do not want to remove the oak at this racking?

I am not too concerned about it being clear...No one has complained about sediment (small amounts) yet.

We would also have to return to the pail to add the f-pack. Is that OK?

Wade if you are reading this, we started the Black Current today.

 

[cpfan]

SammyK...

get me up-to-date on what is going on here. (I don't have the exact instructions, but am looking at the Selection Speciale instructions on the WE web-site.)

You started the kit in a primary fermenter. Then at some point (day 5-7 in the instructions) you moved it to three 1-gallon jugs. Didn't this leave the oak behind in the primary?

Then the instructions recommend 10 days in carboy before checking the sg. You said "it is day 9". Do you mean since you started or since the wine was racked to the jugs? If the latter, aren't you moving a little quickly here?

For winemakers, patience is a MAJOR virtue.

Steve

 

[Sammyk]

It was racked from the primary on day 9 when it was 1.020 as per instructions.
Tomorrow is 10 days and it is right where it is supposed to be. I need to check again tomorrow to see if the SG is the same for 2 days in a row.

The oak was transferred from primary to 3 1-gallon carboys with the oak because it seems they wanted the oak transferred too.

I am not in any hurry, everything is where it should be. And we may not get to that racking until Wednesday.

 

[millwright01]

The two kits I did turned out very clear. I am assuming you left behind the thickest sediment when you racked into secondary fermentation as per instructions. By not racking off the sediment I believe they mean to stir it back up and add clarifiers,stabilizer and f pack. I had quite a bit of sediment that I stirred back in and it all dropped out nicely. I read on here somewhere that a little sediment stirred back in helps the clarifiers to bond and settle. I would say your best bet would be to stir up each carboy then immediately transfer int primary bucket to degas, stabilise and add clarifiers and f pack. Then, as soon as you have them all added and stirred up, rack into your carboys. You should start to see the sediment dropping almost immediately. Good luck! This is an awesome kit.

 

[Sammyk]

Yes we racked all the sediment. Most likely most of it went into the 3rd carboy.

Tasted like jet fuel today but we have done enough wines and SP to know they taste pretty bad at this stage....

 

[Wade E]

Yep, you need to stir it all in together so the fining agent works properly so get it all in that primary and get r done!

 

[Sammyk]

Many thanks to all for your help

We were concerned about oxidation.