Hazy

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  September 2009

  Fubbiano I Pampini 2003

  Snoothrank: Starting at $39^.19

  The wine is a medium red but cloudy/hazy right out of bottle. Nose of dark cherries, vanilla and toast. On the palate lots of rich black currant jam but not much else. Maybe bottle variation as my past experiences were better. This came across as forgettable.

  Wine review by Eric Guido

  
  
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  June 2009

  Coste Piane Prosecco di Valdobbiadene 2004

  Snoothrank:

  Light and playful but appley, citrussy with some weight. Very fine bubbles with a "hazy, natural appearance". Long lasting yeastiness. http://www.spittoon.biz/artisan_vine_londons_best_wine.html Read moreLight and playful but appley, citrussy with some weight. Very fine bubbles with a "hazy, natural appearance". Long lasting yeastiness. http://www.spittoon.biz/artisan_vine_londons_best_wine.html    (hide)

  Wine review by winescribbler

  
  

• June 2009

  I bought a 2001 vintage Shiraz, Heavens Gate, 2 weeks ago. I opened it the ... I dont remember it being hazy cloudy but it was. Can this happen after a wine has been opened can it become super cloudy. The nose was amazing though.... If you like mesquite bbq sauce, V8 juice, and a... Read moreI bought a 2001 vintage Shiraz, Heavens Gate, 2 weeks ago. I opened it the ... I dont remember it being hazy cloudy but it was. Can this happen after a wine has been opened can it become super cloudy. The nose was amazing though.... If you like mesquite bbq sauce, V8 juice, and a wood burning stove component this is for you.... as long as I have not been drinking a wine that has gone bad    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Question about a Shiraz....... by vinofreak12

  
  
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  April 2009

  Marques de Murrieta Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva 2000

  Snoothrank:

  Pours a thin but hazy red, the oakiness isn't to hard at all and actually quite light. Red fruit, burnt toast and nuts come to the front but is let down slightly by the punchiness of the taste as its right on top of you, no subtlety at all.

  Wine review by colinrchorley

  
  

• April 2009

  In a post earlier this year titled “Winter Winemaking”, I discussed a little bit of the thought process and ensuing vinification activity of a young wine post-harvest.  Now that the majority of our 2008 wines have been blended and are marrying in barrel, it’s (chronological)... Read more In a post earlier this year titled “Winter Winemaking”, I discussed a little bit of the thought process and ensuing vinification activity of a young wine post-harvest.  Now that the majority of our 2008 wines have been blended and are marrying in barrel, it’s (chronological) time to turn our attention to the previous vintage - 2007.   As with our Cabernet and Merlot based wines, the wines will age in barrel from 18 to 22 months before bottling.  We are scheduled to bottle our 2007 Merlot blend and Estate Cabernet in early May.  So, the most obvious and important activity pre-bottling is to remove the wine from barrel and settle it in a stainless steel tank to facilitate the bottling process.  This activity is called racking. The pre-bottling racking is the final clarifying event for the wine, but also stands for some winemakers as the final blend.  At Larkmead we blend in the first six to nine months of the wine’s life; a philosophy we believe helps the wine harmonize and integrate with itself and the barrel profile, leaving nothing out of balance.   During the initial rackings we will use a centrifugal pump to allow oxygen to come in contact with the wine (an opportunity to soften the rough edges, i.e. tannins) and to force out any remaining CO2.  As the wine ages, it becomes near mandatory not to expose the wine to oxygen, therefore we will move the wine with the help of inert gases.  As pictured, we are pressurizing the barrel with Argon in order to gently move the wine to tank (a tank that has been gassed with Argon to displace its oxygen).  Argon is heavier than Nitrogen (which is still widely used for this process) and does not bind to other elements (especially those in liquid).  The process of moving the wine takes about five minutes per barrel (a 60-gallon barrel is the equivalent of 25 cases of wine).  During the last two weeks, we racked with Argon over 250 barrels (or 6,200 cases) worth of wine that we are readying for bottling in May. Once the wine is in tank, and the headspace is gassed with Argon (to displace any residual oxygen) it is time to take a sample of the wine to test its final chemistry.  The chemistry analysis will determine whether there is any remaining bacteria in the wine that can cause flaws or faults in the wine.  At this point we will be able to make decisions as to whether or not the wine needs to be fined or filtered before bottling.  Fining is the process of clarifying a wine, removing any micro solids, bacteria, yeast and polyphenols (i.e. harsh tannins).  A traditional fining solution would be egg whites.  Today there are also other gelatins that produce positive activity that will bind with the unwanted cells.   Said addition is mixed into the barrel before racking or tank post-racking and then allowed to settle to the bottom of the vessel pulling out the unwanted particles that have remained in suspension in the wine.  Filtering takes fining to the next level. Filtering can play an important role in the production of the final product.  When you filter a wine, you guarantee that the whole body of the wine will be subject to electrokinetic activity that once again helps remove any microbacteria. Fining and filtering can help ‘polish’ a wine by removing its rough edges and improving its texture and clarity. A History of a Wine’s Chemistry Analysis Chemistry analysis is an important contributor throughout the life of the wine making process. During the cold soak, we will look at the wine’s nutrient profile, sugar content and acid which will guide us through the pending fermentation and cue us in as to whether we will need to be adding any nutrients to facilitate a healthy conversion of grape juice to young wine.  Once the wine finishes fermentation the standard chemical analysis of the wine will include: pH (the general indicator of acidity in a wine; water is neutral at 7 pH, while white wines will be in the low 3’s and red wines in the mid to upper 3’s; thus acidic); RS (“residual sugar” or the glucose and fructose that remain in a wine after these sugars have converted to ethanol concentration or alcohol; each wine and each winemaker will have their own threshold as to what is acceptable RS in a wine.  We consider our wines to be ‘dry’ (i.e. lacking sugar) at less than 1 g/L.  Late harvest or dessert wines can be judged as such if they have more than 4g/L residual sugar); Alcohol (self explanatory) and VA (or “volatile acidity” which is predominantly acetic acid that is produced by spoilage yeast and bacteria in a wine and can cause the development of unwanted sensory effects.  Wines with high acetic numbers can also cause the formation of ethyl acetate that is a common microbial flaw.  At high levels, ethyl acetate produces the dreaded nail polish remover character in a wine; at lower levels it can produce a potential sweet, richness). Throughout the life of the wine’s maturation the sulfur levels are monitored and adjusted to preserve the wine.  Appropriate levels of sulfur in a wine during aging will act as an antioxidant and will prevent microbial growth.  The absence of sulfur in a wine and the presence of oxygen is the biggest threat to the wine’s health.  During the wine’s life in barrel, we strive for sulfur levels in the mid-30’s and we will bottle our wines at levels around 25 to 28 mg/L (or parts per million, PPM). With the basic chemistry established and at acceptable levels throughout maturation, it is now time, pre-bottling, to determine whether or not the wine has any remaining spoilage yeasts and bacteria that produce off character(s) in wine.  The most common ‘flaws’ that develop during primary and secondary fermentation are as follows: Oenoccoccus, a malolactic bacteria that will produce high levels of acetic acid; Brettanomyces is an easily distributed volatile acid, ester and phenol that is responsible for the off-aromas and barnyard flavors we commonly know as Brett; Lactobacilius, another malolactic bacteria that forms during sluggish fermentations produces that buttery character in a wine; Pediococcus is yet another lactic bacteria that can cause textural defects that suppress the fruit character in a wine and prevent the healthy aging of a wine.  The appropriate chemistry analysis of these bacteria will let you know if you have any of these miscreant cells remaining in your wine.  Although some of these cells may be present, there is a good chance that they are ‘dead cells’ that were neutralized during the healthy process of sulfur maintenance.  If we feel that the wine is in jeopardy due to high levels of any of these cells, we will make the decision to filter the wine. A short cut to checking if a wine has problems is to check its turbidity, i.e. the wine’s clarity or haziness.  Turbidity will help determine whether a wine has any suspended solids.  Those solids may include the yeast cells or the microbacteria listed above; however, as mentioned, those solids may or may not be active in deteriorating the wines.  It is up to the winemaker to make the judgment based on the full chemistry analysis as to whether or not they wish to clarify the wine further through filtration, to finish and polish the final product or to free it from the potential danger of those bacteria attacking the character of the wine. As I type this, I am happy to report that we have the full chemistry analysis of our Merlot blend, Firebelle. The wine has a pH of 3.9, RS of less than 1g/L, VA of less than 1g/L, Alcohol at 14.5% and no spoilage bacteria whatsoever.  The turbidity of the wine is 25 NTU and we’d like to see that lower than 15; so, we are going to rack the wine from tank to tank because during the process of moving the wine from barrel to tank, it is likely that you will shake up some solids which we are comfortable knowing will settle out once again in the weeks ahead pre-bottling.  So, looks like a near perfect (chemical) wine.  But most importantly, how does it taste?  Well, that is for you to decide when the wine releases January 2010.  I’ll report back in a couple of weeks with a photo essay of the bottling process.  Until then, thanks for reading. Dan Petroski is Assistant Winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards in Napa Valley. Dan has an MBA from New York University and worked as an Ad Exec in New York for several years, before switching it up and trading his suit for a move out west    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Bottle Racking by danpetroski

  
  
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  April 2009

  Pecchenino Dolcetto di Dogliani Siri d'Jermu 2006

  Snoothrank:

  A hazy, dark purple hue. On the nose, loads of blackberry jam with toast, chalk dust and vanilla. Followed by blueberries and violet candies on the palate with a medium blackberry fruit finish. A juicy and refreshing Dolcetto that comes across and perfectly balanced and well... Read moreA hazy, dark purple hue. On the nose, loads of blackberry jam with toast, chalk dust and vanilla. Followed by blueberries and violet candies on the palate with a medium blackberry fruit finish. A juicy and refreshing Dolcetto that comes across and perfectly balanced and well polished.    (hide)

  Wine review by Eric Guido

  
  
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  March 2009

  Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2001

  Snoothrank:

  Opaque hazy purple. Minty, wood, and fruit on the nose with some stewed tomatoes and cola. Bright, delicious fruit with great acidity and a fruity finish.

  Wine review by adamlevin

  
  

• January 2009

  I agree, it was certainly a big step above a typical Rosso. Well since ... a medium red color and a bit hazy. The nose explodes with brambly fruit, I might think it was a Zin if I didn't know better. Raspberry Jam and a bit of bell pepper also pop up on the background. On the... Read moreI agree, it was certainly a big step above a typical Rosso. Well since ... a medium red color and a bit hazy. The nose explodes with brambly fruit, I might think it was a Zin if I didn't know better. Raspberry Jam and a bit of bell pepper also pop up on the background. On the palette it changes with time in the glass, at first it came across as a big juicy wine with blackberry and caramelized sugar but within an hour you start to pick up tobacco and the wine becomes more jammy with chewy tannins. The finish is nice and long with hints of plum. Overall a very enjoyable wine.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Snooth GTI - Sangiovese -... by Eric Guido

  
  

• December 2008

  Having read the normal text (rather than, except by reference, the recipe) ... these parts, but things get hazy with the lime juice and the simple, so play with it a bit

  Forum post in the topic Recipe: Tru Canton Sour by gr

  
  
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  December 2008

  Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Appellation Series Paso Robles 2006

  Snoothrank:

  This one is the color of dark beets, and it's kind of hazy and has a watery rim. My first few sniffs after it stood for 20 mins in the glass were pure alcohol. Couple swirls released currants and jam. Little cedar maybe. My first sip was way off. Maybe something is wrong with me... Read moreThis one is the color of dark beets, and it's kind of hazy and has a watery rim. My first few sniffs after it stood for 20 mins in the glass were pure alcohol. Couple swirls released currants and jam. Little cedar maybe. My first sip was way off. Maybe something is wrong with me today, I don't know, but this just tastes watery and sour and unbalanced. Yucky.    (hide)

  Wine review by SillyValley

  
  

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