RJ Spagnols Winery Series Super Tuscan 2015

Posted on by chuck
Inside the box ($150 CDN):
  • bag of grape juice (16 litres)
  • 2 crushed grape pack (2 litres total)
  • 3.4 oz medium toast oak chips (16g/gallon) 
  • (RJS says 1 bag is american and the other french)
  • bentonite (30 grams)
  • potassium metabisulfite (4.8 grams)
  • 2x potassium sorbate (not used)
  • pectinase (1.5 grams)
  • chitosan (~50mL)
  • kieselsol (~10mL)
  • yeast (Lalvin EC-1118 – substituted BM 4×4)

 

Next time I’ll ferment in a bucket with the skins/oak chips in a muslin bag.  Or posibly use two carboys and combine the results into a single topped up 5 gallon (19L) carboy.

 

Pitch Date: November 21, 2015

Lalvin BM 4×4
  • 6 gallons
  • OG: 1.111 – measured after stirring in grape pack
  • Added 1 tsp wyeast beer/wine nutrient for a double dose
  • Added 2 tsp powdered wine tannin (made from chestnut tree).
Day 2 (48h post pitch)
  • Light Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) detected
  • Added 1/2 tsp wyeast beer/wine nutrient for a single dose
  • 1/4 tsp DAP for a half dose
Day 3
  • Light Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) detected
  • Added 1/4 tsp wyeast beer/wine nutrient for a quarter dose
  • 1/8 tsp DAP for a quarter dose
Day 4
  • Light Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) detected
  • Added 1/4 tsp wyeast beer/wine nutrient for a quarter dose
  • 1/8 tsp DAP for a quarter dose (was really -just- over 1/8th tsp)

No further Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) present
Day 18
Added pectinase, kieselsol, chitosan into the primary fermenter.  Unorthodox but the final step will be the last before a 6-9 month bulk age.
Day 22

Racked, degassed (45 mins, drill stir), kmeta added.  

Rack 3 gallons to bulk age (carboy topped is around 3.5).  

Rack 1 gallon to a jug with 6g med french cubes and 6g french light(untoasted) cubes.

Commence long term bulk aging. 

Tasting Notes (at 3 week racking):

-Aroma: sour cherry, plum, leather

-Taste: plum, med oak, black cherry

Full body, med to med+ tannins.  Quite promising.

 

Bulk Aging Timeline

6 Months – Add 1/8 tsp potassium metabisulfite to 3 gallon carboy.

12 Months – Add 1/8 tsp potassium metabisulfite & bottled.  Nothing added.

 

Final Gravity Reading

0.993 SG

 
15 Month Tasting Notes
March 1 2017

 

Coming Soon!

Tasting Notes:

-Aroma: ___

-Taste: ___