We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far we think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some bottles have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is this anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.
Orlando,
Through the _center_ of the corks? By any chance, did you reuse corks that had been pulled with a corkscrew? Also, it is common practice to stand newly corked bottles upright for a few days, to a week, to allow any leakage to escape as air, before the corks seat snugly. Did you? In any case, just stand the bottles up, clean them up, and wait a bit. They'll be fine if the corks sound.
You could re-cork, and then place the bottles of wine in the fridge to kill off any excess yeast, and or use wax seal after re-corking, Stephen SG, UK
these are new corks, we thoroughly soaked them before use. We did not stand them up for a few days and I realize now that I should have. The seepage seems not to have gotten worse. Perhaps I will try the wax seal. Thanks.
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I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not soak the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!
Guy
My corks are the composite type and the corker is the Portugese type. Guy
I have this problem all the time. If it seeps from the middle of the cork, and is just one or two drops, it doesn't seem to affect quality of the wine, and ages normally. If it seeps from the edge, or is a lot, then it's bad. I haven't figured out how to make it stop yet, but the wines are aging fine so I just kind of let it slide for now.
I used #9 1-3/4" composite corks, chamfered on both ends with a Portuguese corker. The wine seeped from the center of the corks for only a day or so when it stopped. Hasn't seeped since.
If it was moisture pooling out that is one thing, that's normal if you soaked them. ( I never soak, I rinse, spray with sulfite, drain well and use if the bag of corks was open; just use dry if not.) Wine should never seep out of a good cork. I would not use anymore of those if that is the case. Take them back or throw them out. Composites should never leak, they are supposed to fit well and be tight inside too. Number 9 corks ay 1.5 to 1.75" are standard corks for standard bottles, so they are not overcompressed either.
Leakers are not uncommon on inexpensive corks, but if there is a path out of the cork, there was a path in too. It really depends on how long you want to keep the wines. If under a year, you may be ok; if over that I might replace them with better ones.
If the cork felt woody, you may want to cut one open and see what it looks and feels like inside. A good cork has some give to it. A bad one can be hard as a two by for and about as resilient. There are good corks out there at around $0.20 to $0.25 (US) in small quantities, there are also good synthetics if that is something you are willing to consider.
Regards, Joe
For a while I scalded my corks. It was a disaster. Almost all leaked or were close to leaking around the sides due to the cork going mushy -- but I have never had one lead out the middle. This has been brought up before so it must happen and whether the corks were cheap or expensive -- they were bad.
I agree completely with Joe. If there is a path out there is now and excellent path in. The wine that has reached the outside can be infected and then the infection can follow the wine back into the bottle.
I would drink them quickly or recork with good corks.
Ray
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