After bottling about 125 bottles of Merlot, I discover to much of
disappointment, that the wine is not completely clarified. Before I
open a 3 months old bottle I see serious amount of sediment in the
bottle (the "side" that faces down in a sample of 5) The wine does not
taste good. I do not know what went wrong. I argue with my friend that
the wine will never be any good so we could just as well open it all,
pour it into few carboys, try again to let it clarify for few weeks,
clean the bottles and rebottle the wine.

So my question is, is it of any use opening the bottles and try the
clarification process again and rebottle?

Thanks all.

Paul,
You said the Merlot has been bottled for 3 months...correct? How long did
you let it bulk age in the carboy?
Darlene

"Paul Orlander" > wrote in message
om...
> After bottling about 125 bottles of Merlot, I discover to much of
> disappointment, that the wine is not completely clarified. Before I
> open a 3 months old bottle I see serious amount of sediment in the
> bottle (the "side" that faces down in a sample of 5) The wine does not
> taste good. I do not know what went wrong. I argue with my friend that
> the wine will never be any good so we could just as well open it all,
> pour it into few carboys, try again to let it clarify for few weeks,
> clean the bottles and rebottle the wine.
>
> So my question is, is it of any use opening the bottles and try the
> clarification process again and rebottle?
>
> Thanks all.

"Paul Orlander" > wrote in message
om...
> After bottling about 125 bottles of Merlot, I discover to much of
> disappointment, that the wine is not completely clarified. Before I
> open a 3 months old bottle I see serious amount of sediment in the
> bottle (the "side" that faces down in a sample of 5) The wine does not
> taste good. I do not know what went wrong. I argue with my friend that
> the wine will never be any good so we could just as well open it all,
> pour it into few carboys, try again to let it clarify for few weeks,
> clean the bottles and rebottle the wine.
>
> So my question is, is it of any use opening the bottles and try the
> clarification process again and rebottle?

I wouldn't. Just leave it alone for awhile (6 mos to a year+), decant the
wine and try it again. It'll quite likely be much better by then - if it
was any good to start with.

Meanwhile, start another batch. Let it bulk age longer before bottling.
Learn from your mistakes - including the ones you didn't mention. ;^)

Tom S