Dry Red Ideas

[Jose' Miller]

I am new to wine making and started with some cheaper kits and some fruit bases. I just can't find the taste I prefer. I love a nice dry Merlot with an oak tannin bite. I am not experienced enough for figuring out what I want. Do you have suggestions for a good quality Merlot kit for a nice dry wine with a oak tannin bite? Is there a good kit out there to give me what I want? Are there adjustments to a specific kit that will give me the wine I'm looking for? I just can not get use to a sweet or even semi sweet wine. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[heatherd]

@Jose' Miller My suggestions are:
-Add oak during fermentation
-Add more oak during clearing/aging
-Use a kit that has grape skins or add grape skins
-Ferment to dry 0.090ish
-Add tannin powder if you don't have access to grape skins

 

[GaDawg]

I like the Eclipse Napa Valley Stag's Leap District Merlot with Grape Skins Wine Kit by Winexpert

 

[Country]

Adding some sugar up front will increase your ABV and make the wine finish with a more dry taste. I like my dry reds close to 15% ABV. Good luck.

 

[LouisCKpasteur]

I concur with the Eclipse Stag's Leap...if you want to go a little cheaper try the Winexpert Intl French Merlot. Lot of oak in that kit. Also, the LE New Zealand (Hawkes Bay) Merlot which I have clearing looks good if you can find it anywhere.

 

[pillswoj]

Eclipse Stags Leap Merlot is what you are looking for, it will need about 2 years to fully age.

 

[Jose' Miller]

Sounds like the Eclipse Stag Leap Merlot is what I need to try. Thank you for your input!