2020 Vinifera Blend
October 2020 – I’m making a Merlot-heavy Bordeaux style blend this year. The blend includes small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, which are all fermented together.
Note: “Vinifera Blend” refers to this wine, which contains all the Bordeaux red grapes except Merlot. The 2020 Meritage is 67% Merlot, 33% Vinifera Blend. The 2020 Meritage Plus is 40% Merlot, 40% Zinfandel, and 20% Vinifera Blend.
Ingredients
Grape | 36# Cabernet Sauvignon 36# Cabernet Franc 36# Malbec 36# Petit Verdot |
Enzyme | 2-1/2 tsp Scottzyme Color Pro |
Fermentation Oak | 1 lb shredded French oak, medium toast |
Yeast | 2 packages Red Star Premier Rouge |
Nutrient | 12 tsp Fermax + 6 tsp Fermax |
Sulfite | potassium metabisulfite added at various points (see below) |
Method
Crushed & destemmed the grapes. Grapes at 52 F, have to warm up to 65 F before inoculation.
Added Scottzyme Color Pro for improved color extraction and 1 lb fermentation oak. Note: The SG is the combined SG of all 4 grape varieties. |
10/10/2020 SG 1.100 |
Temperature rose to 67 F in the afternoon. Added 12 tsp Fermax and yeast. | 10/11/2020 SG 1.100 |
Added 6 tsp Fermax. | 10/14/2020 SG 1.060 |
Drained the free run wine and reserved it. Medium pressed the pomace.
5 gallons of free run is part of the 2020 Meritage blend. 1 gallon each of the free run and pressed wines will continue to be tracked in this log. The intention is to bottle 1 gallon of varietal wine. [For my purposes, I’m treating this one as a varietal.] All remaining wine is part of the 2020 Meritage Plus blend. |
10/20/2020 SG 0.997 |
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Notes:
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