Cherry Melomel

Started 10/13/2001
Bottled 3/19/2003

Alcohol 11.5%
Initial SG 1.095
Final SG 1.010
pH ND TA ND

Tasting Notes

4/29/2004 This melomel tasted very medicinal (eg. cough syrupy) for quite a while. i was pleasantly surprised to pull out a bottle today and find it becoming smooth and delicious. It has beautiful cherry red clear color and the nose is full of cherry aromas. This wine is sweet with a cloying body that fills your mouth with cherry. This is all about cherry. Hints of harshness that used to be present seem to be diminishing.

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10/13/2001

~12 pounds unfiltered, unheated pure raw wildflower honey
2 quarts Brownwood Acres Red Tart Cherry Concentrate from Michigan (From MI Grand Traverse area, 68 brix with essence returned)
2 tbspoon yeast nutrient
2 tsp acid blend
2 g sulfite

Honey, cherry concentrate, nutrient, acid, and sulfite were placed in primary with enough hot water to make 6 gallons total (SG 1.095).  A starter was prepared from honey, water, a little of the cherry concentrate and Montrachet yeast.

10/14/2001

Starter going great.  Added to must.  After a few hours, the cherry must was poured into a 6.5 gallon carboy and fitted with an airlock.

12/9/2001

SG 1.017  Color beautiful red.  Taste is quite cherry and a little medicinal.  Maybe from the honey harshness.

1/27/2002

SG 1.016. Stuck fermentation? Racked into a 6 gallon carboy and a 1 liter bottle. If this doesn’t kick it in, try a new yeast starter.

2/17/2002

SG 1.014.

5/2002

Looks like fermentation is starting again

6/16/02

SG 1.014 - has carbonation

2/23/03

SG ~1.010 racked – 2.4 g sulfite added. 6 g sorbate added.

3/19/03

Filtered #3 filters and bottled. 25 750mL and 10 12 oz bottles  11.5% alcohol