Tempus fugit

[homer]

River Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, frozen garpes, per the instructions, after squeezing, in about 3 days, re-rack, done. Now they get a little vague, after the second racking the instructions say to do the MLF, but no real time frame for the wine to sit in the secondary. What do the professors say? bk

 

[jet]

The last MLF culture that I used said to allow 1-3 months.

 

[midwestwine]

My instructions say let sit 6 weeks

 

[homer]

My question is, what length of time in the secondary before you do the MLF. 6 weeks with stirring twice a week is what the instructions say for the MLF itself. bk

 

[midwestwine]

start it once fermentation has completed

 

[Tom]

Yes once the wine is "dry" add MLF. DO NOT add any meta yet. Now depending on temp it can be 6-12 weeks. I like to do MLF in a warm area not cellar temps.
Once complete add meta. NEVER add Sorbate to a wine that went thru MLF.

 

[midwestwine]

Yes once the wine is "dry" add MLF. DO NOT add any meta yet. Now depending on temp it can be 6-12 weeks. I like to do MLF in a warm area not cellar temps.
Once complete add meta. NEVER add Sorbate to a wine that went thru MLF.

Tom-On the instruction from midwest for this wine they give you sorbate to add after mlf

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/aitdownloadablefiles/download/aitfile/aitfile_id/1738/

 

[Tom]

Most if not all here will say no sorbate.

Adding sorbate will give you a geranium flavor to the wine.

 

[homer]

So this is the consensus, no sorbate if MLF is done?

 

[deboard]

You can get some bad flavors with sorbate + mlf, so that's why you avoid it. It's not necessary in a dry wine anyways, since renewed fermentation is unlikely.

 

[Tom]

YES no sorbate unless you want a geranium taste to your wine

 

[KSmith3011]

Homer, I am about a few days behind you with the same Napa Red River Cab. Mine is done fermenting, I am letting some lees fall out then MLF this weekend. I am very happy with that purchase so far. The grapes were a great price and looked real healthy.
Keep in touch with me, I would be interested in how yours turns out.

 

[Wade E]

I know you should not have sorbate present during MLF but not positive on the effects of adding it after. Either way if your wine is dry and your not sweetening your wine there is no reason to use sorbate. I would keep the sorbate in the fridge for a future wine that you will want sweetened.