What is meant by "Hot" wine

A "hot" wine is one that has alcohol so high that it is not in balance with the rest of the components.

It is possible for a high alcohol wine to be balanced, but it takes tremendous fruit, and perhaps some residual sugar, to achieve that. Vintage Port is a good example.

Tom S

I made a Welch's wine once that was so high in alcohol that tasted awful. It was about 18 percent and I guess there was not enough body to wine to cover the taste of the high alcohol. I used the Welch's Cocktail and not the concord that was called for. I think the concord would have turned out much better as it to begin with has a much bolder taste. I ended up giving the entire 5 gallon batch to a friend. He was throwing a birthday party and we made about 7 or 8 gallons of really strong sangria. I was happy not to have wasted it. I saved one bottle to open next year. Honestly this wine was so awful I didn't want to waste my bottles on it. It was very acidic too, heart burn central. It sure would warm your chest though.

David

Acid and alcohol will slowly reduce with aging. They combine to for esters with give the wine more depth and complexity.

Of course i woulnd't expect it to drop down from 18% too much.

I made a batch of Niagra like that once; I gave a bottle to a co-worker and he came in the next day and called it "Death By Grape"!!! LOL!!!