WineXpert WineXpert Eclipse Lodi Cab kit

[David219]

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?

 

[ibglowin]

8 days is nothing really for an oak cube or bean. They will take a month or more depending on your cellar temp to really fully extract. You do not have to worry about over oaking a wine if you use only the supplied oak that comes with the kit. I would transfer the oak cubes back to the wine after the final racking and let them fully extract for at least a month or two. Taste along the way so you can see how it progresses.

 

[SouthernChemist]

I second the idea of letting it sit on the oak cubes for a month or two. You won't over do it with the oak supplied. My WE Brunello is about 6 months old, and I had the oak cubes in there for about 6 weeks. I know some people will wait until most of the cubes have sunk to the bottom before racking off of them.

 

[David219]

SouthernChemist, at what point did you leave them in for six weeks? After degassing and prior to clarifying, where I am now with this kit? If you re-place the cubes into the carbon after the clarification step, do you re-rack again prior to bottling? I recall the cubes from my Brunello kit to be pretty "yucky" with sediment after the recommended 8 days with the previous kit I made that utilized cubes...

 

[hocke230]

I'm starting this kit tonight actually - did you get 1 or 2 packets of yeast with it?

 

[ann8]

I just picked up this kit, together with the Eclipse NZ Sauvignon Blanc - they are both on sale for $40.00 just this weekend so I got a great deal! I tasted the cab at the store (bottled 3 months ago) and it was absolutely awesome! Fantastic flavour....

 

[hocke230]

Where are they on sale for $40? I'll pay 30-35 to ship each to me.

 

[Dugger]

It's actually $40 off, which I am sure is what was meant in the post.

 

[Putterrr]

Yup, $40 off.

I just purchased one of each. Hard to pass up an $80 savings for ultra premium kits

cheers

 

[Dino466]

Yea - it is hard to pass up - I want the Old Zinfandel it is only $20.00 off until March 31.

 

[hocke230]

Where is this btw... Feel like I've missed the memo here.

http://www.****************.com/eclipsewinekit.html

These are the best prices I've seen just across the country no big deal

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

Saw another vendor who had them on sale that was a joke. My everyday price was lower than their sale price.

 

[Putterrr]

Where is this btw... Feel like I've missed the memo here.

http://www.****************.com/eclipsewinekit.html

These are the best prices I've seen just across the country no big deal

Nobel Grape Halifax. Pick up in store at those prices i would assume

 

[ann8]

sorry for the confusion! yes, $40 off! In my excitement I forgot that wee little word... If they were on for $40 there wouldn't be any more room in my basement