Filtering truly bring about better flavor. I normally drain with a siphon hose until last inch then filter that 3 times with cheese cloth on a metal mesh strainer. Also my siphon hpse i use a cheapy fuel filter to catch what ever then after that inch i laddle everything through that vheese cloth. I normally have small bits of old yeast or frags of fruit left behind and i filter 3 times so some is ok but i found the more frags the more bitter and dry it becomes. Especially dry but can be super sweet from fruit and sugar used. I always go with a full 5 gal bucket with 3.5 gals fruit. If i can get a gal honey i will with half gal of raw sugar either cane or organic raw sugar syrup like karo or whatever long as its raw and unbleached. But ypur wine would mak3 good champ or brandy