We moved the workday to Friday, but didn't seem to work for this week, at least. But wine waits for no woman.

Clearing

• Winexpert World Vineyard French Sauvignon Blanc - (Betsy) - We degassed it last week and it is clearer but still cloudy. Left alone in fermentation room - SG 0.993

• Wild Grapes Australian Chardonnay - (Michele) - I racked it. SG 0.994. From Michele's notes it looks like that was the next step. This is the one that she is going to make Champagne with - no chemicals added.

Stabilization

• Master Vintner Limited Edition 2016 Cherie Merlot - (Michele) - We left this to just sit last week, when I moved the carboy the wine just started bubbling. It was supposed to be ready to stabilize, but the out-gassing scared me so much I talked Michele into waiting another week. I went ahead and followed the instructions - Racking, degassing, adding K's to 1 cup of wine, and then the Kieselsol and then the Chitosan. It's supposed to sit for another month at 68 degrees - not an easy temperature for our production, so I'm letting it stay out since it says cool.

• Winexpert LE17 Australian Ruby Cabernet (Michele) - This one is really weird. No secondary, just a 14 day primary and then stabilizing in 2 steps. Followed directions scupulously. I have to come back tomorrow and add the Chitosan.

Secondary Fermentation

• Atmosphere Limited Edition Viognier White (Michele - for Betsy) - I think Michele wants to split this after she tasted it last week. So Tom won't loose his mind making more racks for me. He has put the stop on any more racks - he's worried I'm developing a problem - making - not drinking. we moved this to secondary last week with SG of 0.990; this week it measured SG 0.992. It just sits this week - no activity except for checking SG.

• Winexpert Selection Premium Argentine Malbec (w/ Grape Skins) (Michele) Racked the Malbec to secondary - SG 0.998.

I updated the blog - missed last week and maybe the week before - I've gotta catch up before the spring comes in hard.

Primary Fermentation

We didn't start anything, it was all I could do to get through all the racking and stabilizing.

Inventory

• Master Vintner Limited Edition 2016 Philosophie Chardonnay (Michele) - Ripeness governs Chardonnay’s character: in the hot sun of the new world it can be soft and lazy, but grown in France it shows both rich fullness and characters of lemon, apple, peaches and figs, along with well-finessed aromas of sweet vanilla, cream, beeswax and minerality.Between lush mouthfeel and a smooth finish it’s tempting to drink alone, but the firm acidity and bold fruit complements a wide range of foods—try semi-soft cheeses, herbed fish dishes, grilled vegetables, and seafood (especially lobster!) Keep this wine in mind for holiday entertaining, as nothing tames a turkey like a rich, satisfying Chardonnay.

• Winexpert Eclipse Italian Peidmont Nebbiolo w/GS (Betsy) - A burly and assertive wine with dark cherry iridescence. Intense and robust with notes of strawberries, a hint of dark tar, and floral aroma complemented by rich, earthy truffles. $174.95

• Winexpert LE17 South African Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc (Michele) - Permeating the white wine world, CHARDONNAY is refreshing to layer with lesser known varietals like CHENIN BLANC, South Africa’s signature white. Grapes from the Rawsonville region, a small picturesque wine growing and farming community on the eastern flanks of the Du Toitskloof Mountains in the Western Cape province, make up this blend. The Mediterranean climate brings cool rainy winters and warm dry summers to the vineyards creating a fruit driven white wine with a high but pleasant natural acidity. The thin-skinned grapes soak in rays of sunshine to ripen and are carefully picked at just the right time to leave a crisp and bright juice. Carrying distinct cultivar characteristics, tropical fruit aromas marry with baked apple citrus zest and juicy peach. On the palate, the buttery complexity of CHARDONNAY is complemented by CHENIN BLANC’S tart acidity to make a beautifully balanced wine. Delicious to sip on its own or to enjoy with food, this is a crowd-pleasing and unique addition to any cellar. Enjoy with a variety of seafood dishes like grilled shellfish or salmon fish cakes. If feeling decadent, try chicken poached in a butter sauce, as the wine’s bright acidity and fruity character will complement the richness of the sauce wonderfully.

• Winexpert Selection California Sauvignon Blanc (Betsy) Crisp and flavourful, this popular grape varietal has distinctive and immediately recognizable aroma and flavour characteristics. The famous grassy, herbaceous bouquet and flinty aftertaste are here, with the generous acidity that is typical of the grape. Steely, grassy, and defiantly dry, nothing can complement a meal better than Sauvignon Blanc, a unique wine that offers a definitive counterpoint to the ubiquitous Chardonnay.

• Winexpert Vintner's Reserve Voignier (Michele for Betsy) - The intense fruitiness of this beguiling wine suggests rich sweetness, but it shows a surprisingly dry and aromatic finish. A delicate yellow colour, tinged with the variety's typical 'green-gold' hue, it bursts out of the glass with apricot, peach and spice aromas.

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