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Vinter's Reserve Cabernet Savignon

I just started a batch of the above wine. I set it going last Saturday night and then left town for a week. I can play with it again this Friday.

A few questions: Is there anything I can do to this batch to make it 'better', like adding some more grape concentrate or somoe tannin?

When I rack to the secondary this weekend, do I need to filter out the toasted oak 'powder' that came with the kit, or does it stay with the trub?

As this was a juice kit, would I be better off transfering the trub with the wine to the secondary, or leave most of it behind in the primary?

This is the first kit I have done that came with oak to add, so I am not sure...

Thanks!

Alex.

Reply to
Alex Brewer
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I did this kit last year. I started the primary in August of 2003. I did leave the oak dust with the primary. But I added 2 oz of medium oak beans to the secondary for 3 or 4 months. I bulk aged and bottled in January 04. It was really nice right before bottling. Very full bodied, complex with good bouquet. I have started drinking it now and am quite pleased.

Reply to
Michael E. Carey

I also started the same Cabernet Sauvignon kit but bulk aged till a week ago.....I started the kit in June 2003....I hardly had to add any water to top off the carboys when racking and final racking/aging

Instructions were followed exactly with no variations and all gravity readings were as expected!

It turned out weak and watery so I dumped it down the drain.

What caused it was lack of enough juice to make a full batch. I dont know if it was a bad kit or just the company trying to be cheap??...I only do real grapes now...there's a BIG difference! I may try another kit in the near future but try to either add extra juice or use the kit for a smaller batch of wine.

By the way...Leave the oak...It will finally settle out and will get discarded during racking

Hope yours turns out Alex!

Ernie

Reply to
Ernie

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