Recent content by jjk1991

I use oak spirals and leave them for 8 weeks. I love the oak flavor and is very smooth with bulk aging. I still use the chips during the initial process in addition to the oak spirals. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

My advice is just another option, but if your new, then yes, keep with the directions. However, I let my primary go all the way down to .992. I rack it off into mysecondary with oakspirals added and then sit for 2-3 months for winexpert and 3-5 if alljuice. I want that lees to make contact for...

I debated myself to do MLF or not and I have so far held off. In fact, I have done some simple testing on winexpert and mosti kits, and quite honestly, they do extremely well with nothing to add. Yes, I do taste my wines during a transfer process to get a "taste" where I'm at. I have had a...

By chance did anyone who won medals from MM get a letter and/or token for a kit per medal won or anything? I did get my response from Winexpert whom are very quick to respond. Warningfor those who win 3 or more medals...Winexpert will only give out 2 free kits per winemaker. So if youmedal with3...

I would assume there is some form ofconformity or regulationwhen it comes to the judges style. Edited by: jjk1991

Oh yes, the Reisling category was obviously more critical than last year. Last year I believe there were 83 entries and this year was 106. Far more gold medals were handed out last year than only 4 this year. So goes for the bronze medal which were way more this year, which tells me the judges...

I thought the scores were interesting myself, but hey, its all for fun. Statistically, if one judge doesn't like it as much as the other two...your screwed out of a medal. You are correct about the scores and their objectiveness. In fact, my score sheets on theChardonnay were favorable by 2...

I thought I would post what was scored on my wines. I placed 3 reds and 3 whites into the competition which were either WE or MM. For those want the specs they were as follows: WE kits were the Argentine Malbec, Washington Valley Reisling and Yamhill Pinot Gris. For MM they were the Amarone'...

I did WE Yamhill County Pinot Gris and it was good. Had a bit of an alcohol bite, but still good. I would like to try this in a MM or Meglioli kit.

I have done several Super Tuscan varietals and the oaking I do has them prepared to go for the 2009 Winemaker competition. WE is ready to go at 2 years and the MM are ready at 2-3 years. I'm a big italian red fan and I feel I have them oaked just right for competition purposes and some friends...

I use the spirals myself from the Barrel Mill. I like to snap them in half for 2 reasons: (1) easier to get them out of the carboy and (2) I get better extraction rates. The taste is exactly what you would want, but I admit, 3 months is the key for me since I do prefer a more oaky taste. My...

Hey Steve, Thanks for pointing out the water on my part. I do add a little water at the first mix. But what I do next might be over kill. I buy 3 bottles of cheapest wine of the batch I'm making and then dilute with water. I then add to the concentrate, mix and then add my yeast. Yes, from...

Hi Jim, I looked over your previous discussions in this chat and had to chuckle about the blistered hand and my a**. I really do my kits the same way and they closely resemble the MM directions. However, I still tweak the MM directions. First, I let my primary go until it looks like it is...

Of the kits I entered, 2 were MM and the other 2 were WE. Mosti is fairly new to the market and they are pure juice kits. Because of that, and working with other wine kits, the MM kits act as a vineyard wine which requires longer periods of maturing. I've noticed my WE kits will start to lose...

Sorry for the late response, but I did win four medals. I won gold for the Malbec, a bronze for the Reisling, bronze for the Reisling, and a bronze for the Petite Syrah. I treat all my wines in bulk fashion with extended lees contact. My Amarone' wasn't quite ready since these wines typically...