NoSnob
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2011
- Messages
- 238
- Reaction score
- 25
I made & bottled a WE SE Columbia Valley Riesling kit a year ago; most of it is gone. It was very good. In two of the remaining bottles I see a white cottony particulate matter that rises from the bottom when the bottle is picked up. It is very different from tartrate crystals, which are glass-like crystals in appearance. Otherwise, the wine is very clear and bright though unfiltered.
From what I read it may be protein flocculation, caused sometimes by high or irregular temperatures, but in this batch this has occurred only in these two bottles. The entire batch has been stored at room temperature (72-77F). I have not yet opened either bottle so I don't know if it is accompanied by any off-flavors or odors.
Is it possible that this indicates a sanitation problem? I am very rigorous in cleaning everything that touches juice and wine with B-Brite and sanitizing with Iodophor (no rinsing). In ten or so kits I have had no other problems implicating sanitation.
Assuming no off-odors or flavors, is this wine drinkable? Should I pour these bottles through a paper coffee filter to remove the particulates? Any other suggestions in handling this flocculation? Thanks
NS
From what I read it may be protein flocculation, caused sometimes by high or irregular temperatures, but in this batch this has occurred only in these two bottles. The entire batch has been stored at room temperature (72-77F). I have not yet opened either bottle so I don't know if it is accompanied by any off-flavors or odors.
Is it possible that this indicates a sanitation problem? I am very rigorous in cleaning everything that touches juice and wine with B-Brite and sanitizing with Iodophor (no rinsing). In ten or so kits I have had no other problems implicating sanitation.
Assuming no off-odors or flavors, is this wine drinkable? Should I pour these bottles through a paper coffee filter to remove the particulates? Any other suggestions in handling this flocculation? Thanks
NS