Recent content by ehammonds

Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum

Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. ehammonds

    Other Extended Maceration Eclipse Lodi 11 Cab

    It’s the method I’ve done on past four red kits. I’m sticking with it. World of difference.
  2. ehammonds

    Argument for using bag for grape pack in primary

    I’m still a bag less boy.
  3. ehammonds

    WineXpert Yeast swap for SE Brunello w/Skins

    I used BM4X4 in mine recently and it worked well.
  4. ehammonds

    Kit Wine Taste

    Best ways in my opinion to reduce this KT are: fermenting on skins while doing an extended maceration, aging in a barrel, and don’t drink for two years.
  5. ehammonds

    Other Eclipse Nebbiolo

    Can’t wait
  6. ehammonds

    Other Eclipse Nebbiolo

    Great. Looking forward to this one. Swapping the yeast for the BM4X4 and going to do an extended fermentation with the skins during primary.
  7. ehammonds

    Other Eclipse Nebbiolo

    Trying to find a good Neb kit to make and that’s available. Did a search on this forum and saw positive reviews of this kit. Can’t tell if the kit still comes with grape skins or not though. Anyone done this recently? Any other Neb recommendations? Thanks
  8. ehammonds

    What is your favorite kit?

    Favorites so far: CC Showcase Amarone, now three years old. Red mountain Cab, no longer available. CC walla walla cab/merlot, about three years old. I now have bottled the Eclipse SLM, Lodi Cab and Eclipse Shiraz. All great but they’re two years old and I expect them to get better. About to...
  9. ehammonds

    Grapeskins loose or muslin bag.

    I always ferment with skins loose. Save your mesh bag, and when it’s time to rack from primary, just pour the primary bucket into another bucket with the bag wrapped around it. It’ll catch the debris nicely.
  10. ehammonds

    Other What's the longest you can age a kit wine?

    My first kit was made four years ago, a winexpert Malbec Shiraz. No skins. Didn’t like it for a long time. Had a bottle last week at the four year mark and it is now good. I’m glad because all other kits since then are higher end with skins. My Amarone will be 4 in February and I look forward to...
  11. ehammonds

    WineXpert Confused

    If it’s been a month since your wine had a dose, and you are bottling the wine with the intent to age for a long time, adding an 1/8 tsp dose won’t hurt. This amount will still be far below commercial wines.
  12. ehammonds

    Other Best Kit For Dry, Full Bodied, Tannic 'High End' Wine?

    I don’t recommend reducing the volume due to chemistry (pH and TA) issues. Consider extended maceration if you’re doing a kit with skins, as well as barrel aging and time. These factors have brought my Wines to the level I hoped for. I opened a bottle of my Cellercraft Amarone this weekend. It’s...
  13. ehammonds

    WineXpert Full body

    Mine spent six months in a barrel and is still bulk aging and is 13 months old. Will bottle in the next couple of months. Tastes ok now but I can tell it’ll be great in a year or so. Added extra tannin and an additional spiral
  14. ehammonds

    WineXpert Anyone tried 2 weeks in primary for skin kits?

    I have a super tuscan that spent 6 weeks on skins in primary. It’s now in the barrel but is tasting excellent. I also have the Eclipse Old Vines Zin on week three in primary. I plan to extend maceration from here on out for all reds with skins. I think the difference is incredible
  15. ehammonds

    WineXpert Eclipse Old Vines Zinfandel with Skins started today!

    Yep, two 30 gram packagers of cubes.
Back
Top