As far as moving, this also bugged me when I first started. If you have plastic carboys, move it a few days, I move 4 days in advance, since it will kick up more. Glbutt will not stretch and bulge when you pick it up, but the movement up the steps will be a lot. Suggest getting a "handle" for carboys if you can buy one, as I find that makes less movement of the sediment when carrying in that position versus, picking up.
If you have another carboy, racking to a clean one and bottling from there makes the last bottles a little less hectic for you. I used to always nervously watch both the bottle and the end of the hose as it sucked closer and closer to the lees in the bottom. If you rack clean, it's so much less stress (and we all need less stress). If you don't have a spare carboy, make the last two bottles "sludge bottles" that you don't mind what goes in them. When you let them sit long enough (months)then decant them prior to drinking to only pour out the good stuff. Gives you the most wine without the stress again. My sludge bottles typically have 1-4 inch lees in the bottom, and I drink them early.
Fermenting on oak chipsLeon Millot 116Hi Tom: Yup, conversations with an owner of a newer vineyard here in indicate we're too warm for exquisite Pinot Noir. Evidently it becomes ripe too early in the season and can give...
Vintners Reserve is a good company, their Shiraz and Pinot Noir were great for me. This latest round for me was the Selection Estate Series: I have 3 of their kits bulk aging now. Oregon Yamhill County Pinot Gris, Oregon Yamhill County Pinot Noir and a Santa Ynez Syrah. Bottling is in July. I bulk age based on advice I got in this newsgroup, one benefit is "keeps me from drinking too early". smile.
Hope that helps, DAve
Duck Redbeard
