This kit came with 60 grams French oak AND 60 grams toasted oak. I “let” this one bulk age for an extra month (i.e., really didn’t have time to deal with it). 14.5% final alcohol. Got 30 full bottles + 2 full glasses! Not filtered. A little soapiness on the nose. Very dark garnet in […]
Tag archive: home winemaking
After the foam mess, I skipped the optional second racking of this wine, since I already lost so much volume in that debaucle. As a result filtering was definitely necessary. But, it all seems OK after everything that went wrong. Very nice at bottling, should need about 2-3 months to be more drinkable. Nose of […]
The cab-merlot was the only wine I made without the drill-driven mix-stir. My first Spagnols kit (limited release Riesling) said to degas longer than the Winexpert kits said, which made me do some research on degassing wine kits. After tasting several wines now, and retasting my cab-merlot, I am starting to understand the importance of […]
This is the first Spagnols kit I’ve done, and the instructions are a little different from Winexpert. They said to stabilize and clear at the first racking; but mine was still fermenting. It foamed up and over the top very quickly! Of course, the one time I have the wine out in the kitchen and […]
It looks pretty, but way too young to even attempt a rating. Very dark inky purple. Light fruity nose with that funny soapy/basic smell and taste that the Cab/merlot had when young. Heavy tannins, very rich flavors of dark fruit and hints of spice and leather lurking in the background. Definitely tastes young, and this […]
The Montagnac vieux Chateau d’Oc kit came with a funky little attachment to go over the end of the racking cane, apparently to keep the raisins from clogging it when racking. It says: “To successfully rack the kit and leave the sediment and grape skins behind, you will need to remove the cap off of […]
Time to check the Montagnac vieux Chateau d’Oc to rack to secondary. Bummer, the SG is 1.025, and should be 1.010 or less. OK, wait another week …..
A few notes on the latest wines. It is a little early for most of them, but you don’t know how they’re developing without tasting! Australian Chardonnay: A little soon after bottling to taste, but I couldn’t help myself. Still too young, but nice. Buttery nose, lots of heavy oak in the attack and flavors […]
After learning more about the different levels of kits and being so impressed with the pinot gris kit so far, I plunged and got one of the super-premium kits with grape skins. I got Winexpert’s Montagnac Vieux Chateau d’Oc, which is a big, confusing code name for a Mourvedre-based rhone blend. It is described as […]
I actually got 30 full bottles plus 2 glasses to taste. Had to filter, did not completely clear, although pretty clear, could have bottled. Already pretty well developed. Fruity nose of apples and pears with hint of vanilla. Greenish-gold (and clear) in color. Round flavors of apple with citrus flower and some vanilla, a little […]