2000 Cline Oakley

[Drew]

I thought I'd posted on this but couldn't fine the thread. Several months ago I stumbled on a value bin stash of this wine for $5 per, bought 8. All but one showed secondary fermentation, fizz. Popped three last night pouring the first down the drain. The second was so effervesent that it foamed out of the bottle like a shaken soft drink! The third was still and delicious. What would have caused this and how is it one escaped although all came from the same lot?
Great value....$40 for one drinkable bottle.

Drew

[Tastevin]

Hello Drew. Could have been malolactic fermentation but that is not usually as lively as you experienced. From a distance, I would hazard a guess it was going through a secondary fermentation caused by a stray yeast having its wicked way with some residual sugar. For one reason or another, all 12 (or whatever quantity is in a complete case) bottles are not necessarily from the same vat/cask. You didn't say, so I guess you didn't taste any - may have tasted quite nice. T

[Thomas]

yeah, doesn't sound like ML--it would also have a sauerkraut smell if it were.

Was that an unfiltered wine?

[Drew]

Don't know about the filtration, went to their web site and it doesn't say...also no indication on the bottle.

Drew

[Thomas]

Unfiltered also means that there is the potential for yeast cells to reactivate.