Recent content by pacific_red

I do note that #6 was a LE2020 Grenache Tannat Shiraz, which makes me think the wines submitted mainly predate the availability of the FW kits, so things will probably change next year. I did make #6 as one of the last non-FW kits I've made. I just got around to bottling it from bulk after...

Based upon volume of concentrate, the WS kit = 3 x Forte kits (exactly), so the WS kit is not that large if you usually start multiple kits at the same time. Comparing prices including shipping to California (~$72 for both) and my discounts, the WS Bordeaux kit including 6 skin packs and the...

This is not my experience. I placed an order for 2 FWK kits when they were offering free shipping. Shipping to California is not cheap. The first kit arrived quite quickly but the 2nd disappeared in the Fedex tracking system for a week and ended up taking 2 weeks to arrive. I contacted Label...

Just bottled the original Super Tuscan /w 2 skin packs after 12 months bulk aging. It reminds me of a nice Bordeaux - guessing Lodi Cab Sauvignon contributing to that. It's the best kit I've made so far.

Which kit were you making? The Forte kits I've made state 6.75 L of concentrate and the volume I received was pretty accurate. Your stated volume of 2.6 L(?) doesn't correlate with the Forte or Tavola stated volumes. The Forte has a bit more concentrate (~10%) compared with Tavola to give higher...

The kits tell you the volume of concentrate in the juice bag, so it's easy to calculate the volume of water to add to get to 23 L. I measure the volume of water added with a measuring cylinder - easy and accurate. Works for me.

Malic acid is chiral. If you add a synthetic racemic mixture, only the natural enantiomer will be recognized by the MLB.

I have a couple of FWK reds in various stages, but too young to comment on regarding quality. Regarding a Sauvignon Blanc, I currently have a glass of the WE Eclipse sauvignon blanc in my hand that is a good example of an unoaked NZ sauvignon blanc that compares well with a good $10 commercial...

If you top up with wine that wasn't included in the kit, you get 30 bottles. I don't, and rack down to a 5 G carboy for bulk aging. I am typically getting 27 bottles plus another bottle of wine to include in cooking extracted from the lees from second and subsequent rackings - for the reds that...

? Is this the kit you bottled a couple of months ago? You gave positive notes at the time. I'm assuming you haven't lost your sense of taste and smell......

I'm fascinated by the interesting conversation on TDS effect on SG on this thread. I ran the FW Super Tuscan /w 2 skin packs and RJS EP Super Tuscan side-by-side under similar conditions for comparison under 2 month EM. Both are now racked and have some data points to share : the SG / FG for the...

I'm 2 months into something similar, with 2 skin packs on the FW Super Tuscan. I set up the RJS EP Super Tuscan at the same time for comparison. Both are coming to the end of an extended maceration. I've done enough kits over the last couple of years to resist the urge to intervene - my best...

I ordered the LE Nero D'Avola and the LE Cab Sauvignon, but got 2 Cab Sauvignon instead. Not what I ordered, but I'll go with it. I would have liked to try the Nero D'Avola as something different.......

A note on the Super Tuscan with double skins. Arrived last Friday (shipped last Monday). Refrigerated until Saturday when started. The must reached 1.092 on Sunday with no noticeable rise with the double (dry) skins. The pull-tab on the juice bag broke off - useless - but a snip on the corner...

Just ordered the Super Tuscan with double grape skins. I plan on comparing with the RJS EP Super Tuscan that I will start at the same time. The Finer Wine kits look a bit different - does anyone know what yeasts these come with? I'll be disappointed if they come with just EC-1118.