David219
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 199
- Reaction score
- 58
I am making my second kit with grape skins. The first was the WineXpert Brunello kit, which I bottled last fall. Both kits add additional oak cubes after degassing during clearing, and state after 8 days to proceed to the clarification step. I followed the instructions to the letter at that point with the Brunello kit, and while the wine is still quite young, I think it will be outstanding with more time. With other kits I have made, I have chosen a more "patient" approach with many of the time recommendations. For reds, often the primary fermentation would be for 5-7 days (depending on the SG readings and just gut feel on how it was perking along), and maybe 15 days or so in secondary. I will often leave the wine alone after degassing for 3 weeks for clearing, then rack for clarification and leave for 50-60 days until bottling.
My question for my more experienced colleagues is how long can I leave the wine on the oak cubes without yielding liquid lumberyard? Is the 8 days critical?
My question for my more experienced colleagues is how long can I leave the wine on the oak cubes without yielding liquid lumberyard? Is the 8 days critical?