Mosti Mondiale Vintners reserve Merlot 10 liter

[ShawnDTurner]

Update:

Bubbling away it is! I checked the S.G. a slight increase barely from starting S.G. Guys this thing is full body, this is most certainly a way to increase body. Very thick!

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Update:

Squeezed the Muslin Bag of goodies. S.G .992 /?, I will re-test S.G in a week. Daily I will be swirling Primary to Re-Suspend the gross lees.

 

[ibglowin]

Looks like its just about there!

 

[ShawnDTurner]

I will be racking off at some point onto 4 0z of Medium French Toast. Yummy (FRENCH TOAST)!

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Update:

Racked to secondary, added French Medium Toast oak cubes 3 oz. I also added pectin Enzyme. This thing is Hazey!!!!!!!!!! which is to be expected, with all of the additional ingredients.

 

[v1rotate]

I usually add oak cubes at the clarify step to avoid having them sitting in a bed of sediment, which leads to a small amount of difficulty in racking around the cubes without taking too much sediment, and having to clean and re-add the cubes. Do you plan to rack this batch at all? I haven't made a VR kit in a long time and can't remember if the instructions call for any rackings after day 5-7.

 

[tonyt]

I usually do dust and or chips in primary. Spirals and or barrel during aging. I have done cubes in secondary when the instructions say to leave sediment behind in primary (WE does this), then rinse cubes and add back during clearing. It is messier and I have only done this before I began bulk aging usually for 6-7 months. I now know that if I am aging several months I have plenty time to fiddle with oak options and gives me more reasons to taste often.

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Jim, I usually will rack every 3 - 4 months. Usually when I get to the bottling phase after a year. There is little to no sediment left. I usually let mine clear naturally, no clearing agents.

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Update:

I will be bottling this one in a few weeks, it has been a year in Carboy. While I bottle. I will of course, drink a few glasses of this one. Im very excited about this one, it smell really good. Cant wait until it gets some age.

 

[Rocky]

Shawn, you should be commended for sticking to this. I sincerely hope you are rewarded for your perseverence.

BTW, where in Columbus? I live in Powell.

 

[tonyt]

Great job Shawn. Let us know how it tastes at bottling.

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Rocky.........I am close to grove city, right off of Frank Rd.

 

[ShawnDTurner]

Tonyt. I sure will let you know!

 

[ShawnDTurner]

I bottled a few weeks ago,

Here goes the sniffy sniff (Ode to Gary Vanerchuk)

On the nose oodles of blackberries, blueberries, vanilla and cherries with a hint of plum.

Mid-palate full, round, velvet with a touch of acidity.

Finish - the cherries showed up big time with the blackberries nice finish. The flavor lingered for awhile. I am shocked! I can't wait until it ages more. I will crack open a half in a year and update.