What would you do?

[pete1325]

Hi, I have a 2016 Montepulciano that I bottled after bulk aging in a carboy for almost a year. I normally rack four or five for times a year and never had issues with clarity or sediment. I just started opening a few and notice sediment on the side of bottles and the clarity is pretty bad. What would you do? Pull the corks, pour I back in a carboy and wait a few more months before bottling again? As far as taste goes......it's not bad. Thanks.

 

[REDRUM]

Depends how much stock you put in clarity. Personally I reckon if it tastes good that's what matters, and if you keep it maturing in bottle you could just decant carefully off whatever sediment is there when you drink it.

 

[Scooter68]

Like the above reply! Certainly if you wanted to serve to guests/friends, open, decant into another container (Decanter) and serve. Once in a while things go a little sideways but most times, there's a way to deal with it. At least you aren't faced with selling it.

 

[NorCal]

I recently had the same. Emptied two cases back into the carboy, added fining agent, racked it a week later. I then bottle one bottle, out it in the fridge for another week to make sure it was stable, which it was.

 

[JohnT]

I would not do a thing. Allow the sediment to settle in the bottle (over time) and decant before drinking.

The whole purpose of decanting is to provide aeration and removal of sediment.

 

[Donatelo]

If the bottles were stored on their side and you had this drop out, a careful decanting and handling of the bottles would be acceptable. But if the sediment is suspended, I'd be tempted to uncork, add finings in the carboy and clean the bottles. Then allow a couple of days before bottling. Sounds like a lot of work for aesthetics.
If it were me, I'd probably decant and serve it.

Semper Fi, Troops.

 

[mainshipfred]

View attachment 47320 I recently had the same. Emptied two cases back into the carboy, added fining agent, racked it a week later. I then bottle one bottle, out it in the fridge for another week to make sure it was stable, which it was.

What's the white thing on top of the carboy being filled? I assume it is part of the vaccuum.

 

[NorCal]

What's the white thing on top of the carboy being filled? I assume it is part of the vaccuum.

It’s a check valve, to protect the pump, just in case I get distracted.