It's pretty annoying to open a Barolo or Vosne Romanée and find it cloudy as has happened to me in the last couple of months.

The wine is still drinkable but certainly not optimal and the fact that it looks like it contains silt detracts from the overall experience.

What causes this condition ? What can be done to correct the immediate problem, for ex some sort of filtering ? Can anything be done to prevent it ?

Both these wines were stored horizontally in the dark for 2-5 years.

Thank you one and all

Stand them up for a few days before opening. Carefully decant the wine off the sediment and you should have no problems.

Both of these wines are meant to have a sediment - the aging process will cause this. As banchland says, leave them upright for a few days then carefully decant.

It is possible to decant immediately but be very careful when transferring the bottle, keeping it horizontal with as little disturbance as possible. Take the cork out with the bottle at an angle so that the sediment stays on the same side of the bottle and decant in the same direction. Stop decanting whe you see the sediment arrive in the neck. Use a light underneath to help see it.

Do not, under any circumstances, take the bottle, shake it up and jump around the room shouting "I've got a bottle of Barolo", just so your neighbours can hear. This is considered poor etiquette and may affect the clarity of the wine.

To add on to Killer8 and benchland's comments..

Sediment is normal and ok. Contrary to popular belief, sediment does not imply a poor quality bottle. Usually vintage wines (older and richer wines) have more sediment as degree of sediment shredding depends on types of grapes.

If you want more info on decanting methods and tips, check out http://www.bettertastingwine.com/taste.html. It is a good reference that tells you how to make a bottle of wine taste better with aerating and decanting.

Killer8? Can you imagine Michael Caine chasing around after psychotic octal figures? Would the Wu Tang Clan sing about chubby digits? Issa 'B'.

Apart from that - agreed.

quote:

Originally posted by KillerB:
Killer8? Can you imagine Michael Caine chasing around after psychotic octal figures? Would the Wu Tang Clan sing about chubby digits? Issa 'B'.

Apart from that - agreed.

lol killer8. i like it!

quote:

Originally posted by TBird:

quote:

Originally posted by KillerB:
Killer8? Can you imagine Michael Caine chasing around after psychotic octal figures? Would the Wu Tang Clan sing about chubby digits? Issa 'B'.

Apart from that - agreed.

lol killer8. i like it!

How would you like it happening to you TBirdBa55?

Hi, I am new comer. Y'all are fun.

One passed down family remedy for cloudy wines -- chilling them. The cloudiness disappeared after being chilled for couple days. Not a wine expert, so don't know why. But it has surely worked for us.

-Your new Texan mate.

quote:

Originally posted by KillerB:
How would you like it happening to you TBirdBa55?

i was thirdbass to quite a few for awhile...