Orange Melomel

Started 10/18/2003
Bottled 3/7/2004

Alcohol 12%
Initial SG 1.088
Final SG 0.997
pH ND TA ~0.9

Tasting Notes

4/30/2004 Pale orange color. The nose is subdued, but the orange does come through. The wine is a little spritzy as there is probably a bit of CO2 still dissolved in it. The flavor is nice and balanced with a subtle orange flavor and complexities added from the honey.

7/1/2006 Color is clear pale amber. A little spritzy when poured into the glass. Some dissolved gas still inside? Aromas are a nice blend of the honey and the oranges. Taste is full and smooth with orange notes. Crisp acid and bubbles. Fades to a honey finish.

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10/18/2003

~11.5 pounds of clover and wildflower honey
four 16 oz cans of frozen orange concentrate
4 gallons of water
8 tsp tartaric acid
10 g fermaid
1/4 tsp tannin

Mixed well. SG (a little warm) measured 1.088. About 3 cups of the must was taken out and inoculated with KV-1116 yeast to prepare a yeast starter. 2 g pot. meta was added to the must.

Note about the honey – most of this is old honey that has been sitting here for about two years. About 2 pounds is a commercial clover honey, 6 pounds of ND clover from two years ago that had trouble fermenting out. About 3 pounds is a wildflower honey from ND.

10/19/2003

pectinase added in the morning. Working starter was added in the afternoon.

10/22/2003

SG 1.040 – transferred to a 6 gallon carboy. Over 5 gallons.

11/1/03

SG 0.999 – racked into 5 gallon carboy.

1/24/2004

SG 0.997. Becoming very clear. Racked into 5 gal carboy – 2.5 g sulfite. Topped up with about 2/3 bottle of citrus wine.

3/7/2004