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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...

Hi George!! I thought I would throw this out among your die hard fans for feedback on these shipments. Of course my Carmenere'"damaged product in the salvage container" came sealed, but obviously fermenting. I had to be extremely careful lifting the bucket out of the larger bucket since the...

I'm a huge Amarone' fan followed by Barolo so I'm biased. Cabs okay, but I think you will love the Amarone'.

Hi Rem!! Either way works, but I've done 6 kits with raisins and I prefer to add with everything else.4 were done with raisins added prior to fermentation and 2 after 24 hours. Ibelieve there is abetter extraction of the raisin as opposed to waiting 24 hours, since the sugar content is so...

I do prefer more oak flavor, but I personally feel the kits are under oaked. My first few kits I could not pick out any oak flavor to speak of so I tried the oak spirals with a couple of kits. Immediately, there was a difference and the oak really smoothed out over the next few months. I would...

HeeHee....Now that's one lucky dog! I've had a few spills, but really minor compared to yours. My basement isn't really finished per se', but it does come fairly close. Too afraid with high water table and being lowest point in block. Had internal system put in 3 years ago (now gives me two...