2016 Pinotage
August 2018 – The first time I made this, it was a favorite. Not sure why, but everyone who tasted it really liked it. So I made this batch. Based upon initial taste tests, I’ll make it again — soon.
Ingredients
| Kit | Winexpert Selection South African Pinotage kit |
| Additives | bentonite, metabisulphite, sorbate, kieselsol, chitosan (included in kit) |
| Yeast | Lalvin EC-1118 yeast (included in kit) |
| Sulphite | As needed |
Method
| Following kit instructions, dissolved bentonite in hot water in fermenter.
Added wine concentrate. Topped fermenter up to 5.5 gallons, using several quarts of the water to rinse the wine bag. Stirred with powered stirring rod for 2 minutes. Added oak powder, stirring 1 minute. Sprinkled yeast on top of must. |
02/03/2016 SG 1.082 |
| Removed bag of grape skins, pressing bag to remove as much juice as possible.
Racked wine. Put into carboy + additional 1 gallon jug. |
02/11/2016 SG 1.015 |
| Racked wine.
Added metabisulphite and sorbate, stirred 2 minutes. Added chitosan, stirred 2 minutes. Filled carboy plus 1 gallon jug. |
03/23/2016 SG 0.996 |
| Racked wine. Added 1/4 tsp metabisulphite and bottled. | 07/14/2018 SG 0.996 |
Notes
| Yield | 28 bottles |
| Alcohol | 11.7% |
| Winemaking Notes | Another one I let set FAR too long. But it turned out surprisingly well, despite my neglect. |
| Tasting Notes | 1 month post-bottling, the wine is very tasty. Like the Petit Verdot, I am surprised my neglect didn’t destroy it. |
| 10/12/2018 | My sister-in-law tried it, then asked for a bottle for Christmas. Another friend who doesn’t drink red wine tried it, then finished half the bottle. Dang! This is on my list of reds to make again in the near future! |