6/16/08 Racking Report

Blog Update:

 

Lee/Bob/Mike/Troy met on Monday to rack. We managed to combine and rack the ID Cab into Troy's 26G American barrel, combined the merlot 1/2 and merlot 2 into a 30G hungarian and Bob's 15G American Oak barrel (after verifying if we wanted to keep Merlot 1 or 2 separate) , and racked the Syrah out and back into Troy's 15G Hungarian barrel.  We ran some of the merlot 1/2 over copper and stirred it some. We'll have to check it and see if we need to rack it over copper this summer.  We spilled a little more wine than we should have.....something to keep in mind is when racking back into the barrel, always ask yourself if there is more wine than the barrel will hold.  :)

 

Here are the barrels that still need to be racked. We'll also need to sulfur the empty barrels.  How about Monday June 23rd? 6:30pm?

 

1. Malbec

Keep in Lee's 30G French barrel. We'll have several gallons left for topping.

 

2. Merlot #1

Keep separate, as it's the better clone. Keep in the current Hungarian 30G barrel. We'll have to top-up with Merlot 1/2.

 

3. WA Clone 6 Cab

Move from the new French 20G Recoop as it's getting a strong toast flavor. Move it into Lee's 15G older French (neutral) barrel, plus carboys for topping.

 

All the barrels are in the cooler, but we ended up putting 2 of them onto the low dolly carts because the barrel holders failed when moving barrels around.  It will work for now--but it will be difficult to lift them.  We need to re-evaluate the barrel ordering and supports to get them set "right".  One possibility is to modify the barrel cradles with wheels so they will roll into the cooler and still accept the barrel lifter. Bob almost had one figured modified on Monday that fit.