WineXpert Eclipse Columbia Valley Riesling - Not too impressed

[geek]

Started this kit Nov.22 with K1-V1116 and after it was really cleared it was bulk aged for a month in a glass carboy and then bottled.

Tasted a bottle yesterday, understanding it is still really young, but not too impressed, no aroma to the nose and the flavor is not really there...

I made a less expensive kit from WE and not long after bottling it was very good both in aroma and flavor.

Hoping it will improve around May (6 months after I started it).

 

[ibglowin]

I still have about a case left of mine. Its about 14 mo old now and its really good but seems to need a bit more acid. I have been adding a little tartaric when I open a bottle and just a smidge of acid seems to bring out a nice zing that it is missing own its own. I have a Ken Ridge LR Riesling/Gewurtz/Chard finishing up right now so I will be good to go on Riesling for a while but I think the next time I will go back to the CC Showcase Riesling.

 

[geek]

I think this one has good acidity, maybe a bit high but fine. However I'm surprised there's no nice aroma.

I remember it did smell a bit funky when fermenting around 1.050 and it faded a bit at 1.030.
It seems like that taste is still there but very subtle.

 

[ibglowin]

On mine it seems fine at first but about halfway through the bottle it seems flat. pH test show it around 3.4 and if I bring it down to 3.2 it just pops.

 

[Boatboy24]

Did you have a fairly warm ferment?

At 3 months of age, it is most certainly young. My Eclipse Sauv Blanc didn't start hitting its stride until 9-12 months.

 

[geek]

I don't think it was that much warm, my notes say this:

Nov 22 1.084 Pitched K1-V1116 yeast and added a bit of Elderflowers. Only added about 1 ¼ gallon of spring water to make 6 gallons

Nov 24 1.070 active fermentation

Nov 24 1.050 active fermentation around 8pm, some odd smell so added yeast nutrient

Nov 25 1.030 active fermentation, odd smell subsided a bit

Nov 26 1.002 racked to 6gal PET carboy and will back sweeten in 10 days

Dec 5 0.996 fermentation is done, stabilized and added f-pack

Dec 5 1.002 after adding f-pack