Popping Corks

[mr.harm]

When my wine stops fermenting, as in the air lock quits bubbling and I see no little tiny bubbles floating to the top, then and only then do I bottle it. But I still have trouble with it popping the corks and it taste like sparkling wine. What am I doing wrong????

[Catch 22]

I believe that your wine has not yet stopped fermenting, it is just going very slowly. That is why you don't see any bubbles. Once you cork it, you have trapped the gas still forming, and it has no way out other than to push the cork.
My suggestions are 1) Give the wine a good dose of sulfite before bottling to stop fermentation or 2) Better yet, wait longer before bottling
The grapes I crushed last October will not be bottled until September or so. Next month, I rack it for the last time before bottling, putting in a small bag of oak chips to smooth it out.Good Luck.