Cork problem?

[Stefani]

When I bottle 5-6 gallon batches I bottle one or two sampler bottle (375ml) after bottling 4-5 of the 750 ml bottles I bottle. I corked them with brand new #8 corks. After I bottled and corked them I kept them vertical for 5 days before I laid them sideways on my wine rack. I bottled this batch of Island Mist Strawberry Merlot in November 2011.

This week, I examined what I call my sampler bottles. I noticed that about wine was seeping up the corks on half of the sampler bottles. None of the bottles are leaking

Does this happen because I didn't soak the corks long enough or is this normal?

See photos below:

This one is the worst of the 7 bottles

Here is the photo of the cork.

None the less I am consuming the contents of this bottle...

 

[Runningwolf]

Sefani, two things come to mind with me. One is that you used #8 corks instead of #9. I assume this is because you're using a hand corker. The next thing is that you said you soaked them. I never soak my corks. I am wondering if maybe you soaked them too long and this is the moisture drawing out from the corks?

 

[Stefani]

Sefani, two things come to mind with me. One is that you used #8 corks instead of #9. I assume this is because you're using a hand corker. The next thing is that you said you soaked them. I never soak my corks. I am wondering if maybe you soaked them too long and this is the moisture drawing out from the corks?

Well I know they were in the Meta-sulfate solution for not more than 15 minutes. Even after 3 months I would think that a #8 should still be OK. the discoloration is definitely the wine creeping up between the neck of the bottle and the cork.

 

[ibglowin]

When I was bottling my splits (375ml) with the #8 I saw the exact same thing. The corks are just tad narrower than the #9 and that makes all the difference. There is a little seepage. Since these were my testers that usually didn't last 6-9 months I didn't worry much.

Use #9 corks and you should not see this problem any more.