Why so Light?

[sjzalew]

I don't want to sounds like I'm whinning....Why is it most of the kits I make, and most of them are better kits, Reds mostly are all "light" I just opened a bottle of Borolo that should have been a "heavier type of wine, full of body, and it's as light as anything else? Does anyone have a good answer?? And/Or a remedy to fix this?????
Thanks
Steve

 

[Dirtydog420]

I had the same problem with my cab/syrah kit I did.. I was told to not add as much water.. so for a 6 gallon kit only make it up to 5 gallons.... Not sure if this is a real solution as I havent made any other kits yet...

 

[grapeman]

Kits get no real skin contact time, so can be lighter in color. Most kit manufacturers do a good job in figuring out the color thing, but since the color comes from the skins, it sometimes is lighter than using the real thing (grapes fermented on skins).

 

[xoltri]

What size of kit is it? Maybe try one of the 18L kits with the grape skin pack. I'm sure that would solve all of your problems.

 

[JohnT]

Kits get no real skin contact time, so can be lighter in color. Most kit manufacturers do a good job in figuring out the color thing, but since the color comes from the skins, it sometimes is lighter than using the real thing (grapes fermented on skins).

I agree. I also understand that some kits (nowadays) come with dried skins to add to the must to simulate the maceration process.

Myself, I tried a kit about 25 years ago and hated so much that I have been going with fresh grapes ever since. In hearing some of the posts, though, I am thinking of giving kits a second chance.


"Heavy is the head that wears the 'Wine Snob' crown".

johnT.

 

[sjzalew]

thanks everyone, I do have a kit in the secondary now that used a 1.5 gal skin kit, We'll see how that turns out, if good, I think I'll add the skins to all my kits. I don't have the time to make it from scratch using the grapes and skins, when I'm at work, I'm out of town for 4-6 days at a time....

 

[xoltri]

I've got one of the Cellar Classic Chilean Malbec kits in the bottle now, it was 18L with 2.5kg of grape skins. It was only started Sept 2010 so I only tried a little at bottling. Definitely didn't taste thin though, I can tell you that much! The grape skins do seem to make a big difference.