Another vote for distilling WITH lees. That said, we've never tried to rack above yeast for any product so ours may be more a matter of convenience as all of our pumping takes place out of the bottom of the fermentor. Never have had any trouble or undesired flavors with this method though.
Can't comment on how shelf life prior to wild fermentation, but... if you are driving out there to pick it up, just bring a slug of yeast with you and pitch it into juice. Should be bubbling away nicely by the time you get it back to your place.