Vinclasse Rioja (Red Wine Kit)

[Trev]

I have done a few beer brews but this is my first wine (after a WoW)

I Visited my LHBS last week to purchase a beaverdale kit and the shop owner told me to try one of his 'own kits' (all labelled with his shop name) as he promised they will be good and offered a refund if I was disappointed. After coming home to start the 'rioccho reservas' kit I have done some internet research to find that it is actually a Vinclasse rioja kit.
Anyway, I paid nearly £39 for the 23 Ltr kit and have made it up tonight. My questions are as follows:

1. Has anyone else made this kit?
2. And if so do you have any tips?
3. Should I have stuck to my guns and bought Beaverdale, I wonder?
4. When I made up the must(?) and took an FG it was only 1064, is this high enough for a red wine (9.3%), can I/should I add more sugar now?

I don't really want to get into the technicalities of advertising as it is definitely a Vinclasse kit (looking at pictures on the internet). I would just like any advice on how to make the best Red wine from the kit - and in the future.

As always your experienced view and advice is most welcome and appreciated.

Trev

 

[Trev]

Well, the kit was definitely very easy to make up, although being my first red wine kit the concentrate did seem a little bit thin (I expected more of a treacle consistency?).
It has been a very slow, almost dormant, fermentation so far. However, after re-reading the instructions it does state its best to ferment at 20-30c so I have put my heat belt on and is now currently siting at 27c and the fermentation has picked up a bit with a nice froth on the top and some activity through the airlock.

Obviously very early to taste but the little tastes I have had, taste like a very strong blackcurrant cordial, so hopefully some of that taste will survive the fermentation process. Although I am still slightly concerned about the abv 9.3% for a red wine?

As always any experience and advice welcome

Trev

Update at 9:00 - Just went to have a look and now the fermentation is flying, distorted the lid of the FV and filled the airlock and all bubbling out the side I now have some quick cleaning up to do :!: