[Sammyk]

What do the experts know about "fusel" alcohol? How likely is the wine to have off tastes?

[Geronimo]

Fusel alcohol has more than 2 carbon atoms attached (ethanol has 2). It's thought to contribute to hangovers, and has been described to taste like kerosene. Typically, a warmer fermentation increases the production of fusels but lots of other things might cause fusels. Maintaining an optimal fermentation temp is the only way to control fusels in wine and beer. For clear liquors, the fusels are discarded as part of the "tails" of the distillation run. Certain whiskeys require some fusels as part of the flavor profile.

[seth8530]

Some one please fact check me on this one. But isnt ester production also temperature dependent?

[Geronimo]

Originally Posted by seth8530

Some one please fact check me on this one. But isnt ester production also temperature dependent?

Yes, and very dependent on the yeast strain as well. When a kit has a recommended temp, they are mainly targeting low fusels and an ester profile from the supplied yeast.

[MalvinaScordaad]

In the 80's we did see some fusels in red wine as a result using commercial yeasts and little or no nutrition with low LANC grapes.
Malvina

[Sammyk]

Did/does it effect the taste?

[MalvinaScordaad]

Originally Posted by Sammyk

Did/does it effect the taste?

To me it is poorly made wine that is undrinkable. However based on some of the posters here they will drink anything. So your question is hard to answer. For example one fellow wanted to know if his batch was ruined because it smelled like nail polish. Seriously would you drink a wine that smelled like nail polish?
Malvina

[robie]

Originally Posted by MalvinaScordaad

To me it is poorly made wine that is undrinkable. However based on some of the posters here they will drink anything. So your question is hard to answer. For example one fellow wanted to know if his batch was ruined because it smelled like nail polish. Seriously would you drink a wine that smelled like nail polish?
Malvina

Well, if a wine that smells like rotten eggs and (to the inexperienced) seemingly undrinkable can be "fixed", what is so bad about an inexperienced person asking if a wine that smells like nail polish might also be fixed?

Key words here are "inexperienced person".

[Sammyk]

It does not smell like nail polish or rotten eggs. It smells and tastes like young wine with a lot of alcohol, really no different then the many others I have made. ABV from SG and FG is 12%. Time will tell.

[Deezil]

What causes the nail polish smells? Is that one of the fusels you're all conversing about?