WineXpert WE French Cabernet Sauvignon...still fermenting

[FlavorSeeker]

I racked the secondary on 9 OCT. The instructions say that at ten days it should be at or below .996. I've been checking it every few days for more than a week, and it's holding at .998 (1.000, if you add 2 for temperature compensation--70F). There are still minimal signs of fermentation (minuscule bubbles rising every so often, so I think there's a slight chance that it will eventually get there, but how long is too long to let the wine sit on the lees at the secondary?

If I let it set until I can get back to it in mid to late December, could that cause any off-flavors? If I plan to let it sit that long, should I rack it without stabilizing/fining?

Could I be getting an off-reading, due to suspended gas? Should I degas and take another reading?

The instructions say NOT to top up at the secondary. If I were do a second racking at this point, should I top-up?

 

[KSmith3011]

If you racked from the Primary on Oct 9 and now are at .998 then you maybe done. If you have time and wanna give it another week, stir it to get some air into it and make sure your temp is atleast 72*.
If I was leaving for six weeks, I would rack and move on to bulk aging at this point. I would not want to see it oxidize.
After you rack, degas add sulfite and what ever other goodies you have to clear it. Then make sure you top it off.

 

[jdeere5220]

As someone here advised me, don't sweat .002 on your gravity. It's not going to affect your final product. As suggested warm it up and give it a gentle stir and give it one more week if you can, then stabilize and move on.

 

[jdeere5220]

The instructions say NOT to top up at the secondary. If I were do a second racking at this point, should I top-up?

The instructions also say not to rack at this point. You are supposed to stir all the sediment back into suspension with your chitosan clearing agent. It will settle right back out of course. In a week or two after the heavy settlement has settled, that's when you rack and top up.