Crystaline Deposites in my Wine?
I was sharing a bottle of wine with my dad to celebrate a change in living arangements and when I took the last swing from the dregs of the bottle I spit out these dark maroon chunks of sedament. They had formed a crystal, but they were really soft.
The wine was a 2003 Bargetto Syrah if that helps. What were those crystals?
Tagged with: bargetto • bottle of wine • chunks • crystals • dad • dregs • swing • syrah
Filed under: All Things Wine
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This artcile answers your question. It could be crystals or sediment.
Sediment in red wine is created over time by the breakdown of pigments and tannin within the wine. As time matures the wine, small amounts of these two phenolic compounds gradually settle at the bottom of the bottle. Phenolic compounds are anti-oxidants and are believed to be the reason for wine’s various health benefits.
It is possible that a wine of recent vintage will show some form of sediment, particularly unfiltered wines. It is important to know that this is not an indication of a fault in the wine and will not be harmful if consumed. Even white wines could leave a deposit of harmless crystals inside the bottle, which is simply an indication that the wine was previously exposed to very cold temperatures. These are called tartrate crystals and may also be found attached to the bottom of corks.
either they were sediments from the brewing process or the suger in the wine was reform as a solid
They are tartric acid crystals, they come from the wine being exposed to cold temperatures, the acid then crystalizes. This is the same thing as cream of tartar.
It is perfectly normal, and completely harmless. Some winemakers will chill the wine before bottling to prevent this as well as lower the acid content of the wine.