WineXpert To rack or not to rack

[cimbaliw]

Good evening everyone. I started a value (vitner's reserve) WE Shiraz kit and have followed the instructions which have involved a single racking. I'm at day 28, "bottling day", but want to bulk age for around 3 months. I plan on adding sulfite but wonder if I should rack off the current sediment burden. My inclination is to not do so. There's probably an inch of sediment in the "gutter"of the bottom of the carboy which is slightly domed. Any thoughts?

 

[Runningwolf]

YES! Rack and get it off the lees asap.
Suggestion; keep your racking cane and inch off the bottom and rack all the good wine to that point. Now very carefully rack the rest in a smaller vessal. If your happy you didn't get any of the sediment add it to the other stuff. If you did accidently get some in there, keep it in a tall narrow bottle like a 1.5 liter and let it settle back out befor adding it back into the original batch. This way you're only try to settle out a small amount rather than 6 gallons if you mess up.

 

[vacuumpumpman]

I totally agree with everything that Dan just mentioned - Transfer it -ASAP

 

[Simpsini]

I agree. You need to rack it off those lee's and add your metabisulphate. Be sure to top off with similar wine or water.

 

[David219]

I'll add a vote to rack. I think the timeline listed in kit instructions is to let someone know the absolute fastest time a person can get from box to bottle. Patience is a virtue, and you will be way happier with your end result if you take the time to rack it off that sediment and not try to bottle from that carboy as it is now.

 

[cimbaliw]

Thanks guys. I was reticent about asking but after seeing the (much larger than anticipated) amount of lees that got pulled off, I'm sure glad I did. As a twist on Dan's 1.5L container suggestion, I tried pouring some of the thicker stuff through a conical non bleached coffee filter placed in a larger funnel. It was probably worth a try but ultimately not very effective. Anyway, the Shiraz is racked off, topped up, sulfited and placed in my under stair bulk storage area for a nice long nap.

Bill C.

 

[Runningwolf]

Hey Bill don't feel bad I tried the same thing with the coffee filter. It was hopeless and I had little patience to wait that long.

 

[cimbaliw]

Oh yeah, it was a slow trickle through the filter. I'm just glad nobody saw me with the carboy balanced on my shoulder, trying to pour slowly into the funnel while the lees kept creeping into the wine from the bottom of the carboy. A seasoned Barista could not have made a prettier pattern in the out going vino. It was just comical.

 

[DaveL]

Don't forget to check the airlock periodically for water.

 

[saylor]

This is sort of off but pertains to aging. I did this same kit and had the same amount of lees you did. However, instead of bulk aging I just bottled ( 30 bottles thanks to a steady hand!) I was wondering if it will age the same as bulk aging . Thanks ahead of time .

 

[fivebk]

Each bottle will tend to age differently IMO if you bulk age your wine you will get a more evenly aged wine when bottling. I age almost all my wines (except skeeter pee) 1 year before I bottle. In this time frame I bulk age, clarify if needed, rack to insure of no sediment, oak if needed, backsweeten if needed & filter.

BOB

 

[saylor]

Ok thank you . So your saying if WILL age but it may not be consistent from bottle to bottle... Got ya

John

 

[cimbaliw]

Saylor, most of the stuff I've read around here suggests that bulk aging with minimal headspace withstands ambient temperature fluctuations better and less exposure to air. You might try http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f5/bulk-aging-vs-bottle-aging-4584/