Lost instructions RJS rosso grande kit

[Huba Huba]

Earlier this year I purchased an RJS En Primeur Rosso Grande Excellent kit and evidently I lost the instructions. I have made enough kits that I can mostly wing it or use FWK instructions but the kit comes with 60 gr American med chips and 60 gr of French heavy toast powder. Generic instructions say
"Oak powder and/or chips - open bag(s) and add now. Stir vigorously."
I am not worried about to much during fermentation but shouldn't one be for post fermentation. Does this seem right? Wouldn't this benefit from oak post fermentation, was it just not included with the kit?

 

[cmason1957]

Chips and powder are always added at the primary stage. I haven't ever made this particular kit, but I would think it could benefit from some oak during aging. 2 or 3 ounces of medium or medium+ toast for 6 to 8 weeks, maybe longer. But then I always think time lines on kits are far too short.

 

[Huba Huba]

Thanks. Are type/toast of oak that important in the primary? I didn’t think much flavor was added and the purpose was entirely sacrificial to preserve the wine tannins

 

[Rocky]

https://www.rjscraftwinemaking.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/EnPrimeur_Instructions_EngFre_HR.pdf
Here are the instructions for your kit.

 

[Huba Huba]

thanks Rocky

 

[winemaker81]

Thanks. Are type/toast of oak that important in the primary? I didn’t think much flavor was added and the purpose was entirely sacrificial to preserve the wine tannins

I typically use medium or medium+ oak. I've tried light oak and didn't get anything from it. Heavy toast can introduce a smoky flavor, so I haven't used it in a long time.

Be cautious of oak use -- it's very possible to over-oak a wine, and although some claim it mellows with age, I've had wine that did NOT mellow. I use 1 to 1-1/2 oz per 19-23 liters of red wine, depending on the wine. The heavier the wine, the more oak it can handle.

Note that I like oak as a seasoning, not a flavoring, so I use less than some folks. Also note that it's a LOT easier to add more than to take some out. Add some oak, let it rest 3 months, then taste test. If it's not what you want, you can add more.

 

[Huba Huba]

@winemaker81 are you talking about oak in the primary or only post fermentation?

 

[winemaker81]

@winemaker81 are you talking about oak in the primary or only post fermentation?

Post-fermentation, e.g., bulk aging.

For fermentation oak, I use 2 to 3 cups shredded, toasted oak in 23 liters.

Keep in mind that fermentation oak in the wine for a very short period. Aging oak is a different story.

 

[Huba Huba]

got it! thanks

 

[joeswine]

got it! thanks

 

[jimdolan]

Earlier this year I purchased an RJS En Primeur Rosso Grande Excellent kit and evidently I lost the instructions. I have made enough kits that I can mostly wing it or use FWK instructions but the kit comes with 60 gr American med chips and 60 gr of French heavy toast powder. Generic instructions say
"Oak powder and/or chips - open bag(s) and add now. Stir vigorously."
I am not worried about to much during fermentation but shouldn't one be for post fermentation. Does this seem right? Wouldn't this benefit from oak post fermentation, was it just not included with the kit?

The jerks at RJS have stopped putting instructions in the kits, I purchased one from Ohio Home Brew, found no instructions which was a problem as these were ingredients such as elder flowers which I had not encountered before. I sent an e-mail to RJS asking for a e-mail with the instructions. I never received any reply. I contacted Ohio Home Brew which very nicely and quickly replied saying they were available online and giving me a link. The RJS instructions are very short and try to cover every kit they sell. I have done a lot of kits over the years and the instructions will be adequate, but for a beginner they would be greek. If RJS thinks I will ever again buy one of their kits they they are mistaken.

 

[joeswine]

So now you can take those those instructions and apply the to 99# of all kits

 

[Jovimaple]

I have had a couple of RJS Cru Specialty kits with no directions recently, but as @joeswine says, the directions are the same for many of the kits. I have a few saved so I just pull out an old one when that happens.

It's not just RJS kits - I have had that happen once or twice on other kits. If I don't have a set of directions from that brand, I usually can find them online.

 

[joeswine]

They don’t real change that much if at all