My plan for 2017 wine from California grapes

[Ajmassa]

Is this MLF really that important? I don’t remember the tasting status of the 3 wines, but are you thinking it’s essential for them? And how to even know if the cab’s issue will be resolved with MLf ?
Before I got into this forum I made juice pails always w/o any MLf, or any other adjustments for that matter. The ones that actually got some age on them drank great. I realize it can benefit mostly all reds. But isn’t it true that you can still make a really great wine that hasn’t gone thru MLf ?

 

[jgmann67]

Is this MLF really that important? I don’t remember the tasting status of the 3 wines, but are you thinking it’s essential for them? And how to even know if the cab’s issue will be resolved with MLf ?
Before I got into this forum I made juice pails always w/o any MLf, or any other adjustments for that matter. The ones that actually got some age on them drank great. I realize it can benefit mostly all reds. But isn’t it true that you can still make a really great wine that hasn’t gone thru MLf ?

All great questions. The only think I can say is, I think so. It's important to me, to the point of being essential (and if it doesn't actually happen, I'll be disappointed). In my mind: bought premium grapes to make a premium wine and MLF is essential to a premium wine. The PV took it's MLF without issue and is on a par with where I think it should be at this stage of the game. The malic acid in the Merlot seems to have decreased and it tastes pretty good - a full MLF should push that back up to par. The Cabs have refused 3 attempts for an MLF and there's still a sour to them. I might be hypersensitive or this might all be in my head, I know. But, that's just who/what I am...

 

[Ajmassa]

Totally understand that. Especially when opting for more expensive grapes. Refresh my memory. Where were the grapes from?

 

[jgmann67]

Totally understand that. Especially when opting for more expensive grapes. Refresh my memory. Where were the grapes from?

Last year's grapes from Harford Vinyards. Brought in from the Suisun Valley, Lanza Vineyard.

 

[jgmann67]

So, last night I took 1g of the MLB and dropped that in my 2018 wine. The rest of the MLB was divided among the three amigos. Primed with Acri-ML and inoculated late last night, the dropped Opti-Malo today.

Now we wait.... again.

 

[Boatboy24]

So, last night I took 1g of the MLB and dropped that in my 2018 wine. The rest of the MLB was divided among the three amigos. Primed with Acri-ML and inoculated late last night, the dropped Opti-Malo today.

Now we wait.... again.

 

[jgmann67]

A week later. No visible signs of... well, anything.

 

[jgmann67]

Fourth time... Not a charm. I racked and dosed these wines yesterday.

I’m tempted to hit one of the cabs with clarifiers just to see what would fall out.

 

[Boatboy24]

Well you can't say you didn't try. How are they tasting?

 

[cmason1957]

I'll offer this anecdote, not advice. At the wine club I belong to, last month we had a member bring in two bottles from the same vintage. He purchased the liquid mlb that treats 6 gallons and he had nine gallons of wine. So we had a taste of off two wines, one went through mlf, the other did not. While there was a distinct difference between the two, it was almost tied between who liked which better. And I was torn. So maybe we put to much into doing the mlf, who knows. Both tasted pretty good.

 

[JohnT]

I like the buttery taste you get from mlf. To me, it is well worth it.

 

[jgmann67]

Well you can't say you didn't try. How are they tasting?

I didn’t taste them. Instead, I racked, dosed, waited a day and hit each of the wines with tannin (mostly 2g of tannin riche extra, but I hit one with 3g of a mix of tannin riche extra and FT Rouge). I’m going to let them alone till after the new year. Then, do some trials, blend and bottle in the spring.

 

[jgmann67]

Interesting. I hit one of the cabs with some clarifier. A good bit of fine lees has dropped in just a few hours. I’m going to take a day or two, then rack it again.

The other Cab (no clarifier) is only showing a little bit of lees at the bottom. Maybe I hit that one too.

 

[jgmann67]

Given the results from the first Cab, I hit the other cab with some clarifier, too. I’m going to wait a day or two, then blend the Cab and Merlot.

Going to leave the PV out until bench trials.

I

 

[jgmann67]

Sampled one of the cabs today. Markedly better wine. Less sour, more tannin.

 

[mainshipfred]

Sampled one of the cabs today. Markedly better wine. Less sour, more tannin.

I know you're disappointed this didn't go through MLF but I bet in the end you will have a fine wine.

 

[jgmann67]

So at last measure (thanks Fred), my ph was about 3.2 and my materials all suggest a ph of around 3.6. Thoughts on making adjustments now that I'm done futzing with MLF?

 

[Boatboy24]

So at last measure (thanks Fred), my ph was about 3.2 and my materials all suggest a ph of around 3.6. Thoughts on making adjustments now that I'm done futzing with MLF?

You've got to go on taste at this point.

 

[jgmann67]

Maybe target 3.4 and see if there's any change in taste.

 

[ceeaton]

Maybe target 3.4 and see if there's any change in taste.

I always do half of the adjustment of what I think I want to adjust to. I've never been disappointed. I'm assuming you already adjusted your wine.