A couple beginner questions:

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HoppyDaze

HoppyDaze

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I made a red wine from a kit several months back and recently thieved some from the carboy where it sits. The wine tastes like there is something missing. I can definitely tast the alcohol but there is flavor lacking and it tastes a little watery. I think I used a little too much water, but not so much that it would make the whole batch watered down.

So my questions are these: Is this a sign of a common error? Maybe the wine is not ready yet? IMPORTANT Can this be fixed, meaning is there anything I can do to give it some flavor and body?

thanks all!
 
how many months is "several"? its posable that its still green. if memory serves reds take longer to mature than whites.
 
I can't remember the kit I used, but it has been racked a couple times. It has been at least six months since we started it. For the fermentation process and clearing processes the wine was very full (near the bung). Now (aging) there is quite a bit of head space because I didnt want to use plastic and my glass carboy is a six gallon one...this recipe is for 5 gallons (I made 5.5)...It was an older kit that we gave to our in laws a few years ago and they never did anything with it so I took it back! It may just be bad ingredients. I used campden a few different times and some nutrients during the process but not exactly sure when without looking at my notes.
 
HoppyDaze said:
I can't remember the kit I used, but it has been racked a couple times. It has been at least six months since we started it. For the fermentation process and clearing processes the wine was very full (near the bung). Now (aging) there is quite a bit of head space because I didnt want to use plastic and my glass carboy is a six gallon one...this recipe is for 5 gallons (I made 5.5)...It was an older kit that we gave to our in laws a few years ago and they never did anything with it so I took it back! It may just be bad ingredients. I used campden a few different times and some nutrients during the process but not exactly sure when without looking at my notes.
Click to expand...

Well, oxidation can make a wine taste not great. I wonder if the oxidation combined with a not-fresh kit caused the problems. You really want to top up to the bung with wine. I've never heard of a 5 gallon wine kit, but if you watered it down by .5 gallon, that would also explain why it's watery and flavorless.
 
You might be able to add some acid back to the wine, just use Tartaric acid, It might give it a boost from you adding too much water. Also you could add some tannin powder or oak chips to give it some tannin, and more flavor. If you added too much water you will have lowered the acid, and alcohol.
 

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