Wine Experts/Chemists Please....
Discussion
[b]Potassium Tartrates[/b]
How do I test to see if the shards of glass like substance at the bottom of the bottle of Gewurztraminer are actually Postassium Tartrate (the wine distributers opinion) and not glass (our opinion).
We tried dissolving them into cold tap water but the crystals remain.
cheers
Ex
How do I test to see if the shards of glass like substance at the bottom of the bottle of Gewurztraminer are actually Postassium Tartrate (the wine distributers opinion) and not glass (our opinion).
We tried dissolving them into cold tap water but the crystals remain.
cheers
Ex
My wine-making partner says look under the cork - if there are tartrates in the wine, crystals often form here. Bits of glass would just sink to the bottom.
I'm told that bits of glass would be very unlikely, but tartrate crystals are very likely - particularly in a good German wine.
I'm told that bits of glass would be very unlikely, but tartrate crystals are very likely - particularly in a good German wine.
It is entirely possible that a Gevertztraminer could throw a desposit over a few years. It is very, very common for red wine/port etc to do so. A by product of modern organic techniques where less/no filtering of the product is done.
It is also, unfortunately, possible but vanishingly unlikely that in the bottling process a defect led to your bottle being defective.
But BY FAR the most likely reason is that the unfiltered wine has thrown a deposit.
Did you *like* the wine? If so consider investing in a proper decanting set in which you will find a "posh tea strainer" for getting rid of such things.
I really hope it wasn't glass. Clearly this would NOT be good for you!
Hope the above helps. Let us know what you find out.
It is also, unfortunately, possible but vanishingly unlikely that in the bottling process a defect led to your bottle being defective.
But BY FAR the most likely reason is that the unfiltered wine has thrown a deposit.
Did you *like* the wine? If so consider investing in a proper decanting set in which you will find a "posh tea strainer" for getting rid of such things.
I really hope it wasn't glass. Clearly this would NOT be good for you!
Hope the above helps. Let us know what you find out.
Thanks all,
The wine was a 2002, and tbh was bloody luvly.
Looking under the cork is a bit of a problem as it's a New Zealand wine hence a screw cap
But this stuff has sunk to the bottom. We've got two of these bottles, one we drank the other is still sealed.
The one that we drank, we put some tap water into it and left it for a few days, the crystals are still there.
From the experience of spitting them back into my glass I can tell you that the have no flavour and are extremely hard (and a bit sharp).
I too am not certain that they are glass shards and if they are we need to prove it and claim our free crate.
So, I have one bottle unopened, one bottle opened drank and sitting with about 15ml of tap water in it. Both have crystals in the bottom.
What to do?
best
Ex
>> Edited by theexcession on Wednesday 29th June 10:14
The wine was a 2002, and tbh was bloody luvly.
Looking under the cork is a bit of a problem as it's a New Zealand wine hence a screw cap
But this stuff has sunk to the bottom. We've got two of these bottles, one we drank the other is still sealed.
The one that we drank, we put some tap water into it and left it for a few days, the crystals are still there.
From the experience of spitting them back into my glass I can tell you that the have no flavour and are extremely hard (and a bit sharp).
I too am not certain that they are glass shards and if they are we need to prove it and claim our free crate.
So, I have one bottle unopened, one bottle opened drank and sitting with about 15ml of tap water in it. Both have crystals in the bottom.
What to do?
best
Ex
>> Edited by theexcession on Wednesday 29th June 10:14
diddyman said:
"When placed in a Bunsen burner's flame, it turns purple."
How are the dawgs, BTW, Ex?
Haven't got a bunsen burner any more
The dawgs are fine, thanks for asking, we took them back to kennels last week. Went to see them again last night and the boy hound knew us straight away, came up to me and buried his head into my coat and wouldn't leave me. He just stood there wimpering to me. When we went to leave he was the one who stood with his legs high on the fence barking and howling... got the feeling he wanted to come home with us. Brought a tear or two to my eye if the truth be known.
The bitch pup was just that and didn't seem the slightest bit interested in us.
best
Ex
theexcession said:
"When placed in a Bunsen burner's flame, it turns purple."
How are the dawgs, BTW, Ex?
Haven't got a bunsen burner any more
Have you got a blow torch?? You can get gas soldering irons with a flame nozzle for less than a tenner. (I assume, as they produce a blue cone in the flame, they're hot enough.)
are they single crystals? (are the crystals regularl shaped with sharp edges, are they shiny and are they transparent?) stick em on a diffy... www.bruker-axs.de/index.html?page=/products/gd/d8_advance.php
or er.. melting point analysis, or NMR if you want to pay someone to do it for you (assuming you dont have an NMR machine + knowledge on how to use it handy).
apparently 1g goes into 700ul of water so it should dissolve in water... try heating them and seeing what happens, do they melt? What if you put it in some vinegar and see if that dissolves it?
edit: not sure about the flame test.
>> Edited by D_Mike on Wednesday 29th June 10:21
or er.. melting point analysis, or NMR if you want to pay someone to do it for you (assuming you dont have an NMR machine + knowledge on how to use it handy).
apparently 1g goes into 700ul of water so it should dissolve in water... try heating them and seeing what happens, do they melt? What if you put it in some vinegar and see if that dissolves it?
edit: not sure about the flame test.
>> Edited by D_Mike on Wednesday 29th June 10:21
boooo
Certainly looks like it isn't glass. A quick blast from the halogen hob turned the crystals into a white colour. They then became soft and powdery.
Ho hum, there goes my where there's blame there's a claim opportunity.
best
Ex
Edited to say: 2nd bottle has just gone back into the fridge, later I shall mostly be drinking a 2002 Gewurztraminer
>> Edited by theexcession on Wednesday 29th June 10:36
Certainly looks like it isn't glass. A quick blast from the halogen hob turned the crystals into a white colour. They then became soft and powdery.
Ho hum, there goes my where there's blame there's a claim opportunity.
best
Ex
Edited to say: 2nd bottle has just gone back into the fridge, later I shall mostly be drinking a 2002 Gewurztraminer
>> Edited by theexcession on Wednesday 29th June 10:36
Get yourself a decanting set. Well worth it.
Easy peasy:
1) Prepare large jug so it is spotlessly clean.
2) Pour wine through filter into aeration cup - draining into the jug
3) If red/cheap/thirsty serve in the jug.
4) Wash bottle out thoroughly
5) Optionally pour wine from jug through aeration cup a second time 0 draining into the bottle.
You lose no more than a few drops and can pour the wine with impunity, even the last glass.
They're only a few quid, I believe...
Easy peasy:
1) Prepare large jug so it is spotlessly clean.
2) Pour wine through filter into aeration cup - draining into the jug
3) If red/cheap/thirsty serve in the jug.
4) Wash bottle out thoroughly
5) Optionally pour wine from jug through aeration cup a second time 0 draining into the bottle.
You lose no more than a few drops and can pour the wine with impunity, even the last glass.
They're only a few quid, I believe...
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