Reserve Du Chateau Merlot 30 bottle kit (Amazon)

[alanwh]

Just had this delivered and this one has 2 packets of Oak chips :thumb: :thumb:
Once the Cabernet Sauvigon is out of FV I'll get a more accurate measure of the SG on this one after a good going over with the paint stirer/ drill.

 

[bobsbeer]

Keep us posted. I thought I might give that one a go after the Cab Sav.

 

[pondlife]

Aye! I ordered one yesterday afternoon and it arrived this morning - well done, Amazon!

I was surprised at the weight of the package until I opened it and discovered the monster bag of juice concentrate. I can't find any measure mentioned in the packaging, but it must be at least 5 litres of liquid. The Young's product pales into insignificance in comparison.

I'll be making this first thing tomorrow.

 

[tonyhibbett]

Sounds like they are getting their arses in gear dumping this discontinued line. Make hay while the sun shines!

 

[pondlife]

Oops! I just bought another one tonight. Can't think how that happened! :whistle:

 

[carl_saint]

How many litres of juice in this kit and how much did it cost?

 

[Eric_S]

I hope it's good...I just bought two!

 

[artyb]

just bought one too.... :thumb:

 

[bobsbeer]

How many litres of juice in this kit and how much did it cost?

Due to us lot talking (and buying) up a storm on these kits, Amazon have put the price up. I ordered a Chilean Merlot £18.75 free delivery, but the Cab Sav has nearly doubled from when I bought that a few weeks ago to £30 and free shipping. The kit has a bag of juice about 5-6 lt, but don't be fooled. It is not all juice, there is added invert sugar. But the kit also comes with a decent yeast, corks and labels. So as long as the finished wine is drinkable it's a good buy.

 

[tonyhibbett]

We all seem to be awash with cheap Amazon red wine kits. How long can this last?

 

[bobsbeer]

Probably until we taste them..

 

[alanwh]

The cab sauv went in the secondary on Saturday with the Oak.
It took only 5 days to get down from 1.085 to 1.002 :shock:
Am feeding the secondary slowly with syrup/juice, upping the ABV to nearer 13% so this should take care of the nasties that might have formed. Think the Merlot I'll brew at 20 Deg.
Am wondering how long to leave the oak in :hmm:
Need to wait a couple of weeks before I start the Merlot due to SWMBO grumbles

 

[tonyhibbett]

These shredded oak chips work quickly, 5 days is enough. Oak 'beans' (about 1 cm square) however, can be left up to 3 months during the bulk maturation stage. My initial experiment with white wine shows the effect of the first is slight and the second is significant, even after 2 weeks. With both types, the dose was 6 g per gallon.

 

[alanwh]

Ill take them out on Thursday then Tony, thanks.

 

[tonyhibbett]

Day 5 with the cab sauv. Very frothy and still above 1040 but at 16 c and starting from above 1090 that's ok. Smells and tastes really nice but as yet not even remotely like cab sauv.
Just got the 'raspberry merlot' kit. Turns out it's designed to be 6% abv and sweet 'summer drink', so neither merlot nor wine. However this is easlily fixed by changing the way it's made. Absolute bargain at £14.16 post free.

 

[Stanleythecat]

Probably until we taste them..

Ok so I just sprayed my drink all over my key board!

 

[alanwh]

Interesting it's ok at 18 deg. Tony. Am I right in thinking it instructs (cant check am at work) Min temp of 20 deg max 25. I did it at 22 and it went way too quick for my liking, what's your thinking ?

 

[tonyhibbett]

Don't worry too much about the precise temperature. Anything between 12 and 30 will do, although a warm start is great, but a STEADY temp thereafter is best. For the secondary fermentation, a steady 15 c. is nice. This is the stage when the raw wine starts to develop the flavour that one seeks in red wine, picked up from the small yeast residue. With champagne, this can take up to 18 months!

 

[artyb]

mine arrived today, a bit slow with yodel...!

it has two bags of oakchips, im looking to improve the basic wine,after reading people comments... :hmm:

i have some elderberrys in the freezer, im thinking of squashing and steeping 1kg of em in hot water,
then put them into the fv before starting the wine kit any thoughts i may also short brew the kit...

any thoughts or good additions .... :idea:

 

[Shayler]

mine arrived today, a bit slow with yodel...!

Thats Yodel for you, they lost my first one. Another order they claimed they attempted to deliver and kept re assuring me it would be delivered each day but wasn't, week of phone calls later it arrives lol

I may also short brew one