First MLF

[Cellar_Rat]

Grahem,

Thanks again for you talk at Grapefest.

For the MLF test I followed your instructions.....

15:00 Started the 2 tests - noted that the cappillary action takes a while .
19:00 Had to nip out to a Fireworks party
23:45 Got back. Lifted out and dried off.
00:30 No obvious marks - no coloring of paper.
06:00 Now dry I could clearly see where the winespots had risen. The paper is a pale 'bird egg' blue. NO other marks or spots.
Nowhere near the definite patterns we saw in your sample.

Either MLF has completed in both wine's -- or more likely i think I have left it too long and they have washed out?

If so do they wash out in the solvent or fade when drying?

Test rerunning now.. I think maybe this is a test your start first thing in the morning.

PS ... lordy lordy that solvent does honk!!

[koomber]

Not to sure what might have happened here. Did you run the test with some spots for lactic or malic acid to compare against?

[Cellar_Rat]

Unfortunately not

Good news though. The retest was a bit better. Athought still quite pale, it has the upper white shadows, but not any black spots at all, so I guess the MLF is done.

I will retest the second wine tomorrow.

[koomber]

Unfortunately not

Good news though. The retest was a bit better. Athought still quite pale, it has the upper white shadows, but not any black spots at all, so I guess the MLF is done.

I will retest the second wine tomorrow.

These are pretty good instructions:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.morewinemaking.com/public/pdf/chromo.pdf

One thing that will help is to spot the wine and let it dry then spot it again and let dry. Repeat this a couple of times to get a nice strong dot.

You need to let the wine dry for a couple of minutes otherwise the spot gets bigger and blurry. By keeping it toight you should get better definition. Hope that helps!

[Cellar_Rat]

Thanks for the PDF. Might be humidity.

[Cellar_Rat]

I might be on to something here...
Noticed this morning the solvent has separated. Top 90% orange. Lower 10% oily heavier and clear.
Vigorous shaking will not combine and it settles out in again in < 30 seconds.
So I when you pour it gently you get the upper orange component only.

Any thoughts, how I recombine it?

Is it me - has anyone else experienced this? Have I stored it incorrectly?

[koomber]

I might be on to something here...
Noticed this morning the solvent has separated. Top 90% orange. Lower 10% oily heavier and clear.
Vigorous shaking will not combine and it settles out in again in < 30 seconds.
So I when you pour it gently you get the upper orange component only.

Any thoughts, how I recombine it?

Is it me - has anyone else experienced this? Have I stored it incorrectly?

It's fine. You only need the orange component. PArt of the process of making it means that you end up with a water-insoluble orange layer and a water-soluble clear layer. I hoped that I managed to seperate them enough to prevent that. Just use the orange layer and it should be okay.

Sorry about that folks!