Hi everyone. Long time no posts. That's what renovating the whole house will do to other parts of your life - put them all on hold. But a half-made wine waits for no man. Here's my story:
Started an Orange Blossom show mead in mid-November. It's been on the secondary since Nov. 29th. Typically, six weeks into the secondary (now) I rack a wine off its sediments and stabilized. Yet, I'm seeing a lot of activity in this carboy. Lots (and lots) of fine bubbles coming off the carboy walls and some forming from within as well I think. I'm used to seeing a very quite wine six weeks into the secondary. Is this an unplanned MLF?
At any rate, I elected to leave it alone last night but here's my dilemma: Several days from now we are leaving for a much deserved vacation and will not be back until Feb 14th. My choices are to rack within the next few days and halt the mysterious activity in this wine. Or, I can can leave it alone until mid-Feb. My concern for the latter choice is the length of time the wine sits on those sediments (10-11 weeks). I'm worried about those dead yeasts imparting off flavours after so long. I forget the term that describes that. Thanks for any help.
Sorry for so many words. As Mark Twain sed, I'd have written a shorter note but I didn't have time.
Jim