Natural corks leaking

[Ericphotoart]

I bought 30 #9 corks from FastRack and I bottled about 25 bottles of Skeeter Pee that aging in the carboy for 5 months. A few days after bottling I noticed leaking in about 6-8 bottles. This is only the 2nd time I use natural corks. I bottled over a 1000 bottles but only Nomacorc. Is it normal?

 

[winemaker81]

They look like lower end corks, so unfortunately, your result is not surprising.

I'd pull those corks and replace them. Watch all bottles for leaking.

 

[Ericphotoart]

it said "premium". Well, I will replace them with Nomacorc. Never had problem with them.

 

[winemaker81]

it said "premium". Well, I will replace them with Nomacorc. Never had problem with them.

It may be that their definition of "premium" differs from yours and mine ...

 

[Johnd]

I bought 30 #9 corks from FastRack and I bottled about 25 bottles of Skeeter Pee that aging in the carboy for 5 months. A few days after bottling I noticed leaking in about 6-8 bottles. This is only the 2nd time I use natural corks. I bottled over a 1000 bottles but only Nomacorc. Is it normal?
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Not sure what your process is, but you should leave your bottles standing for a few days after bottling. The process of inserting the cork puts some pressure in the bottle, which comes back out through the cork. If your bottles are on their side while this occurs, it’ll push liquid out instead of air as the pressure equalizes.

 

[Rocky]

it said "premium". Well, I will replace them with Nomacorc. Never had problem with them.

It may just be the photo, but they appear to be "agglomerated" corks and not "natural" corks. Agglomerated corks are molded ground natural cork mixed with a binder. The process and quality vary significantly from supplier to supplier. Natural corks are a "plug" taken from a sheet of the bark of a cork tree (Quercus suber). These also vary in quality depending on the density of the bark.

I agree with you that Nomacorcs are the way to go. That is what I have used for my last 2000 bottles and have had to problems.

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[bstnh1]

Never saw a cork leak through the middle like that. I've had a couple seep around the edge where it meets the glass,but never up through the middle. Must be an awful porous cork to do that.

 

[cmason1957]

I had this happen to me one time. I had soaked those agglomerated corks in sanitizing solution. Never again.

And no we don't need anyone to post the SNL corksoaker video.

 

[winemaker81]

This thread has be thinking about it. After re-reading it, my thoughts:

@Johnd is spot on -- let those bottles stand upright for at least a week to equalize pressure. Standing the bottles up too soon may be a factor, but only a factor.

Seeping through the middle of the cork is definitely a problem with the cork. If equalizing pressure is a problem, seeping around the cork makes sense -- seeping through it does not.

Junk the remainder of those corks. If the site has feedback, post it that the corks are junk.

 

[BigDaveK]

Another possibility to consider....
I had leakage in a couple of my winter bottled wines so it could be a temperature/barometric pressure thing. I didn't replace the corks - I took it as a sign from The Universe to drink the wine now!