Civilization

Newsletter published by
"The Wine Maker's Toy Store™"
Dallas Home Brew


April 2011 
Volume 9, Issue 4
866-417-1114 (Long Distance)
972-323-7921 (Local)
972-323-7955 (Fax)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chile Fresco is Back!

(cut-off date is April 11th)!

 

This is Mosti Mondiale's fresh juice from Chile and it is one of their best products!  Since it is 100% fresh juice, it is only available once each year after the harvest in the Southern Hemisphere.  Our customers that have made wine with this product have been after me to bring it in again, so we are.

  

Since this is fresh juice, it arrives refrigerated and must be picked up on the day it arrives.  It is pre-innoculated with yeast, so as soon as it reaches 46 degrees, it will start fermenting.  Like the fresh grapes, it will not come with any additives, but it will be balanced for sugar, acid and pH.In essence, all you have to do is take it home, open it up and let it start fermenting.

 

For those of you that pay attention to the WineMaker Magazine awards, you will notice that the number 5 wine from 2010 was the Chile Fresco Carmenere from this line.  Joseph received a gold medal for his 2007, while I received a silver medal for my 2008 vintage.Please note that these products are only available for in-stock pickup.  If we can create enough demand for the product and locate a convenient freezer, Mosti has given me their commitment to work with us to make this a shipable product.  To see the 6 varietals available  and to place an order for them, click on the following link:

 

Chile Fresco

 

We expect these products to be available for pickup on either Friday, April 22nd or Friday, April 29th.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Post Fermentation Tannins

 

The Wine Makers Toy Store carries two post fermentation tannin products that were obtained from Scott Laboratories: Tan'Cor and Tan'Cor Grand Cru.  Both products are a blend of proanthocyanidic (grape) and ellagic (oak) tannins.  The products were developed to aid in color stabilization and protection against oxidation.  In addition Tan'Cor Grand Cru increases structure and mouth-feel through the creation of long-chain polyphenols.


We decided to try the tannins on a Castel del Papa, the 10-Liter Vinifera Nobel kit from Mosti Mondiale.  Since these tannins are to be added post-fermentation, we added them after the wine had been degassed and fined.  The amount of tannin added can be increased with each racking, however the final adjustment should be made at least three to six weeks before bottling.  For our test we made only one addition.
 
For both products Scott Laboratories recommends a dosage of from 10 to 30 grams per hundred Liters.  For our test we selected the low end (10g/hL) and the mid-point (20g/hL).  The wine was divided into five one-gallon batches.  One batch had no tannin added and was our control sample.  Tan'cor was added to two of the one-gallon batches, one received 0.4 grams and the other 0.8 grams.  Tan'Cor Grand Cru was also added to two one-gallon batches in the same amounts.  The wine was then allowed to carboy age for about six months.
 
The wines were tasted after three months of carboy aging.  The wines with the tannin additive were somewhat smoother than the control sample but there was no significant difference in aroma and taste between the samples.  After six months of carboy aging, the wines were tasted and bottled.  The wines with the tannin addition were noticeably smoother than the control.  During this period, all the individual wines had improved aroma and taste.  The tasters were mixed as to which tannin product and which dosage produced the better aroma and taste.  All did agree that the wines with the tannin additions had a more pronounced fruit aroma and taste than the control.


After three months of bottle age, the wines were again tasted.  The body of all wines was consistent with expectations from a 10-Liter kit.  The tannin additions did however; create the perception of increased body.  This perception was from the wine being more fruit forward and the improved mouth-feel.  All wines with the tannin addition were noted as having more pronounced fruit aroma and taste than the control.  The larger the dosage, the more fruit forward the wine.  The wine treated with Tan'Cor Grand Cru showed better mouth-feel than the control or the wine treated with Tan'Cor.

 
Another tasting was conducted after eight months of bottle aging.  The tannin treated wines were still smoother than the control but the difference was not as significant as it had been when the wines were younger.  The wines treated with either Tan'Cor Grand Cru or Tan'Cor continued to show better mouth-feel and were more fruit forward than the control.   Tan'Cor Grand Cru had better mouth-feel and was fruitier than the Tan'Cor treated wine.  The tasters were not able to discern a significant difference due to the increased dosage of the tannin products.   


In summary, the wines with the tannin addition were smoother and more fruit forward than the control wine.  As the dosage of tannin increased, the fruit became more emphasized although this emphasis seemed to diminish with time.  Both products improved the mouth-feel of the wine; however, the improvement was more apparent in the wines that had the Tan'Cor Grand Cru added.  The difference between the treated and the untreated wine is not subtle; the difference is very evident.  The tannins integrated well into the wine and there was no noticed harshness or excess astringency.  Based upon our tasting, these tannin additions can make an improvement in a young wine.  Unfortunately, because of frequent sampling we do not have enough wine left to determine the longer term effects of these tannin products. 
 
These two tannin products were developed to be added to the wine after fermentation is complete and at least three weeks before bottling.  As previously indicated, Scott Laboratories recommends a dosage of 10 to 30 grams per hundred Liters.  Based upon our trials, one teaspoon of either Tan'Cor or Tan'Cor Grand Cru in six gallons will approximate a dosage at the low end of the recommended range, two teaspoons is about the mid-point and three teaspoons is the high end of the recommended range.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

New Product - Digital Scales

 

If you have been looking for an inexpensive scale, we now have 2 models for home brewers and/or home wine makers.  The Primo is good for up to 11 pounds with an accuracy of 1 gram.  The Pico only weighs up to 11 ounces, but has an accuracy of .1 gram.  Both of these scales are made by Escali and can be trusted to give you the information you need and the good part is that we have them both on sale for $5.00 off during the month of April.

 

To learn more, click on the Toys of the Month link below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monthly Sales
 
  
Cru Select - $10.00 off
Cellar Classic Winery Series - $10.00 off

 

Toys of the Month

 
Escali Scales

 
Muntons Gold Beer Kits - $23.99 (11% off)!

 

Fine Vine Wines, LLC

In This Issue
Chile Fresco
Tannins
Scales
Monthly Sales
Current Specials
Brew Day
Links
~~~~~~~~~~
Current Specials

To see this month's specials, new products and close out specials, click on the links below: 

 
Brew Day
  
No Brew in April.
~~~~~~~~~~ 
Other Links

 

Featured Articles

 

In-Store Events


As a reminder, we continue to add products and content to the web site, therefore, if you have any special requests, please let us know. We like to hear what you have to say about our site, our products and/or our customer service, good or bad. Please send your comments and/or suggestions to the contact us link below.
 
Don't forget we like you to CALL!
 
If you have any questions about our products, our service and/or wine making or home brewing, please call us. We are here to serve you and enjoying assisting you in any way we can. We have an international toll-free line so you WILL call us.   Someone is usually at the store between 9 am and 6 pm, Monday through Saturday. We always try to answer the phone when you call; however, sometimes, we are unable to answer the phone as we are on the other lines or we have customers in the store. If you get the voice mail, please leave your name, number, brief message and a best time to call. We will return your call just as soon as we can.   If you don't want to call, just send us an email. We usually answer our emails daily. Please remember, we are a resource and we are here to serve you. 
 
We don't want to be the biggest store, just the BEST!

Cheers!

George, Joseph and Brian

Fine Vine Wines, LLC, The Wine Maker's Toy Store and Dallas Home Brew
 
Contact Information:  Please use the following link to contact us with any questions and/or suggestions you have.