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Paulie,I would not worry too much at this point. As long as you limit your headspace and replaced the stopper, you are well on your way. As others have said, wine changes dramatically in this time period and may go through a down-cycle before it starts to taste good. I made a riesling earlier this year that was almost undrinkable until about the 3-month mark. Red wine will be even longer.If you are trying to make the best wine you can, it is advisable to buy some chromatography paper so you can monitor MLF progression. With cooler temps, it is not uncommon for MLF to last a few months. When it comes time to add sulfites, you will most likely be okay with a 1/4 tsp per 5 gallons (50ppm) addition at each rack. 50ppm is likely to be more protection than you might need, but is well below detectable levels for taste. Home winemakers tend to have oxidative setups, and so the extra sulfite protection really does not hurt. I have attached a helpful chart.I say to give it time, and keep us updated throughout the spring and next summer!
Paulie,
I would not worry too much at this point. As long as you limit your headspace and replaced the stopper, you are well on your way. As others have said, wine changes dramatically in this time period and may go through a down-cycle before it starts to taste good. I made a riesling earlier this year that was almost undrinkable until about the 3-month mark. Red wine will be even longer.
If you are trying to make the best wine you can, it is advisable to buy some chromatography paper so you can monitor MLF progression. With cooler temps, it is not uncommon for MLF to last a few months. When it comes time to add sulfites, you will most likely be okay with a 1/4 tsp per 5 gallons (50ppm) addition at each rack. 50ppm is likely to be more protection than you might need, but is well below detectable levels for taste. Home winemakers tend to have oxidative setups, and so the extra sulfite protection really does not hurt. I have attached a helpful chart.
I say to give it time, and keep us updated throughout the spring and next summer!
