First kit started tonight!

[jgmann67]

I did a little tasting of my very first kit, the Fontana Merlot this Labor Day and I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and color. Still not much bouquet and while the flavor was ok, it was still thin. I did add the single oak spiral in hoped that will give the wine the little extra boost it needs. I stayed away from adding any additional tannins.
I'll taste again in three weeks and then decide if I should pull the spiral at that point or wait the full six weeks. I'm hopeful it's going to end up decent.


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You won't get much of a nose from kit wines (as a general rule). If you do go down the tannin road, Tannin Riche Extra might be just the thing...

 

[Loghousewines]

Give them time..... All of my bulk aging wine really turned the corner at 18 months. I like oak, and have found that once you rack off the oak you lose 50% of the oakiness so aim high. I have 8 carboys aging, all big reds and an empty fermentation bucket but no more carboys. Have to bottle or get more carboys.