Using blue barrels for short term storage

[havlikn]

This fall I plan on doing a red wine and putting it through MLF. After MLF I want to put it into a neutral barrel. Is it safe to put the wine in a foodgrade 60 gallon blue barrel for MLF to complete and then rack it into the neutral barrel?

 

[stickman]

No need to wait, I would just go straight to the barrel.

 

[havlikn]

Do you rack off mlf when done? Or just sulfite

 

[stickman]

Generally with heavy reds they would be racked and sulfited after MLF, some lighter reds like Pinot Noir might get sulfite only and be left on the lees.

 

[chitownwine]

Depending on how long in the blue barrels I would worry about the oxygen permeability of them.

 

[mainshipfred]

I agree go straight to the barrel and once MLF is complete I would rack and return. I also agree that the blue barrels would leave too much oxygen exposure. MLF can take 30 or more days.