Wine Expert Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi Ranch 11

[Kantzje]

Good Evening, I am a little concerned I started the kit today and my hydrometer reading was 1.065 .The kit has been at room temp for 5 days prior too starting.
possibly the grape skins will up the SG number ?

Regard's
Jeffrey

 

[Kantzje]

Oh this is my 4 kit and I did mix the juice for 5 mins then took sample .Is this a rare case of Low Brix on a High end Kit ?

 

[cmason1957]

That seems lower than I would expect. When I stir, I try to do it like I am really mad at the must. To really blend it well. I usually see about 0.015 from the grape skin pack, not much more.

 

[Swedeman]

@Kantzje Check this post, the poster got a big jump in gravity when adding the skins: WineXpert kit goof?

 

[wineh]

When the Eclipse kits came out, I would add the grapeskins to the must, sanitize my Hands and squeeze the crap out of the bag. It usually added .022 to the SG. I have not done that with a private reserve kit, but my initial SG has been in the 1.068 range, so you're not far off.

 

[Kantzje]

Can I use Star-San too sanitize French Oak Chips ? They are a few years old