Hi all:
I posted recently about an Island Mist kit I had recently done. It was a black raspberry merlot, and from a couple of tastings before I racked it, thought I had made a grave error in buying it. It was very sweet, not pleasing at all to my palate - I believe my original description was 'mildly alcoholic Kool-Aid.' At the time I was looking for ways to save it.
Turns out, I should have been more patient. I gave it another ten days in the carboy to clear a bit more, then filtered and bottled it last night. The finished product is a pleasant surprise. While it remains rather sweet for me, and I'm not sure if I'll make it again, it's a nice, light, refreshing beverage, good for a summer/fall party I'm thinking, and it's better served cold. It would probably be better suited to people who really don't like wine a whole lot, it's more like a cooler than anything. But certainly drinkable, and I wouldn't be afraid to give it as a gift.
Sorry if I scared anyone off Island Mist kits. The black raspberry really isn't bad at all. I did however take back the white strawberry that i purchased at the same time, traded it in for a good, safe French savignon blanc. :)
KD