Recent content by SCAndy

I never came up with a name for my operation nor wine. My wife had a few made up with my initials. Cheeky girl

Excellent thread. Lots of good actionable real world experience that i am reviewing for the upcoming season. Such a broad range of racking programs out there. Some big names in Bordeaux rack surprisingly often, then there are some big names that do the opposite and let sit on lees. Charles...

Well the 100 lbs of frozen 2021 WA grenache has been sleeping in the barrel room in bulk since AF was completed in Dec. Malo finished in Jan and so two weeks ago I sampled the progress with my daughter. I knew it was going to be weak in the color department, even from the beginning. I had...

Well, lets split the difference on all this naming debate and call ourselves "Rhone Rangers"! We can blend and call it whatever, although I feel the GSM moniker is a little banal. Just no class. Cote du Rhone sounds so much better. We need a marketing makeover in the US with these varietals...

That is amazing looking product. Quite a project from start to professional looking finish. Job well done.

Well I came to the conclusion that it would not excite me to compete with all the Cabs out there on the market. There are so many excellently made Cabs in every conceivable price category that I could not get motivated about trying to fit in with the crowd. Just don't think I could justify all...

I am reviving this thread as I had just asked the same question. I am two and a half weeks in and have not stirred. Test shows I have a ways to go except for a small half gallon vessel. Last year I did not stir but it was my first ever batch. It went a long time. Not sure I want to leave wine...

I should have noticed that you co inoculated. Apparently the malo bacteria can get "stuck" in the lees on the bottom. Morewine.com has a section in their winemaking guide that advises agitation if you innoculate after AF. I am only a few week in so I prolly just need to wait. Let them do their...

Wow, Mr crushday that is an impressive number of samples on one sheet! I actally performed my first malo chromatography test yesterday and it reveals more time needed. I do have a question regarding malo for you and the gallery. I inoculated with Enoferm after primary as I could not source...

Well whoever said making wine is easy; "grapes just want to turn into wine" may have some inside info. I had chronicled my first attempt with 50 lbs of frozen malbec on this forum and I could not have tried harder to trip up these grapes on their way to winehood. But somehow they made it. From...

Indeed, For all the help and encouragement. Today is for family food and drink. Enjoy. Will post an update on my progress later this weekend

Another vote for the Apera ph60. An experienced winemaker I am not but I know my tools. It's very intuitive and sturdy. Made for the field. I think my wife got the entire kit with case and all stuff for $79 from the dreaded amazon.

Sounds like your doing pretty good to me. I am also drinking bottles from my first foray and I give myself maybe a 3 out of 10. I purposely made a malbec since we consume a lot of cab. I knew I couldn't compete with even our weekday cabs on my first try so I deviated to another varietal. I am...

Sounds like it's going well. Interestingly, I was listening to a wine podacast while in traffic the other day. They were interviewing Charles Smith of Washington State renown. The Chateaux Smith wines I have had in the past were pretty darn good. He was going on and on about how he lets all of...

Thanks for the yeast offer Mr. Crush. I am heavily laden with D21 which is supposed to be a winner for Cab sauv???? My hope is that I can find time to ferment a batch of frozen CS this year. Work is conspiring to ruin my life lately. But I the pics and stories here keep me motivated.......