I went to my local fermentation shop who sells bottles in preparation for bottling my 2011 Merlot which has been aging in my 6 gal carboy. He told me they don't carry bottles because it is not bottling season. He said that I shouldn't be bottling anything right now anyway. When I asked him how long I should age for he said 6-9 months.
Now, I'm not sure but I thought aging it for about a year (I got the grapes in October) seemed totally normal. Did I somehow miss the "bottling season?" And when would that time be? When do most people bottle? When I talked to people before a lot of them said that the harvest overlaps with finishing wine. I hope I'm not being weird or doing it overkill...
Also could someone point me in the direction of where to buy bottles (hopefully not with huge shipping charges)? Thanks.
Now, I'm not sure but I thought aging it for about a year (I got the grapes in October) seemed totally normal. Did I somehow miss the "bottling season?" And when would that time be? When do most people bottle? When I talked to people before a lot of them said that the harvest overlaps with finishing wine. I hope I'm not being weird or doing it overkill...
Also could someone point me in the direction of where to buy bottles (hopefully not with huge shipping charges)? Thanks.