WineXpert Eclipse Italian Piedmont Barolo

[Geronimo]

I find that my glass gets wet every time I rack, too! I dump the bottom-of-the-barrel gunk into a mason jar (or 2) and put it in the fridge... it will settle out fastest in the cold temps. It's a great way to measure the progress of your wine.

But also, leaving all that yeast and gunk behind is a significant volume. I have a rule for topping up; I'd rather use water than crappy wine. If I'm making an Amarone for instance, I really want an Amarone that I like for the topping. I don't want to add subtle notes of other varieties. Water is not evil!! Adding half a liter of water to 22.5 liters of wine is a 2% dilution... negligible IMO. Then you KNOW what you made.

 

[GaDawg]

Instead of water why not add wine you have made? It's not like your not going to drink it anyway

 

[Geronimo]

The point is I'd use water instead of adding something I didn't like and/or didn't match reasonably well. Topping up with water shouldn't be regarded as evil.

 

[SouthernChemist]

The point is I'd use water instead of adding something I didn't like and/or didn't match reasonably well. Topping up with water shouldn't be regarded as evil.

That's perfectly reasonable so long as the amount needed is relatively small.

 

[UglyJohn]

I bottled this last night, and got 31 bottles, and 2 extra glasses out of it. I had left it clearing for 2 months - the instructions called for 28 days.

Tell you what - I was really enjoying drinking those 2 glasses. Even now, it's better than my first 2 lower end kits. I'll probably try a bottle in 2-3 months, and let the rest sit for 6 months or longer.

I may have to get another one of these. My friends all like the lower end kits, and they are gonna be asking for this one even more!

 

[jimmyjames23]

What are the Eclipse kits going for?

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

We have them from $139.99 to $148.99 depending on the kit. The Barolo runs $139.99 with $10 shipping per kit. Here is the link for the Barolo:
http://brewandwinesupply.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_18_46_120&product_id=1294

 

[jimmyjames23]

That's a good deal. My LHBS just became an official WE store so I'm in luck.

 

[richmke]

The instructions say at Step 3 to add the oak cubes with the stabilizers and clarifier. Step 4 is a racking off the sediment 8 days later, and Step 5 is bottling 28 days later.

If I want to oak longer with the cubes, should I:
1) Follow instructions, but wait 4-6 weeks prior to racking off the sediment (risk sediment adding off tones?);
2) Follow instructions, but rescue oak cubes during the racking and add back in step 4; or
3) Wait until Step 4 to add the oak cubes.

If I wait until Step 4 to add the oak cubes, should I: Add more K-meta to kill anything on the oak cubes, or sanitize the oak cubes prior to adding (sit for a few minutes in starsan or Na-meta solution).

Note: I will probably bulk age a few more months, racking every 2 months or so.

 

[Geronimo]

I wait until I'm going to bulk age for 4+ months before adding the oak cubes. Honestly, 3 weeks gets you 98% of the oak character. It's up to you when to put them in, as long as they have contact for a long time you'll get the characteristics.

Don't bother putting any sanitizer/meta on the oak.

 

[Fabiola]

Mine is finished today, I will rack it and bulk age in the carboy and see what happens later, it looks very promising, so far I like it...

 

[geek]

I got my eyes set on this kit and.think I will jump on it....

 

[geek]

FYI label peelers has on sale for 111 today, even though I said no kits for few months to good of a deal to pass.

They have it on sale for that price again 6 months later..

 

[richmke]

Thanks for the help. Kit is in the primary, and I am submerging the bag each day. More questions:

If I am going to bulk age for 1 year, I presume I rack every 2 months or so.

1) Should I skip the clarifying agent (chitosan), and just keep racking until clear? Note: I have already added the bentonite.
2) How often should I add more kmeta?

 

[Geronimo]

I do not rack during bulk aging. I just get the SO2 level where it should be and leave it sit untouched. I re-up the dose at bottling.

I don't use clarifiers with bulk aging. Even 4 months will produce excellent clarity and superior color. If you can leave it sit through a winter (my basement floor gets very close to freezing) then you will drop the wine diamonds as well. You might pull a tiny bit of sediment when you rack to the bottling bucket, but it's so small that it's negligible.