3 Different Reds and a Blush

The busy night wasn't over tho ... The Elderflower Blush Quick was overdue being racked and having the flowers removed. But before that could happen I needed empty demi-johns (DJs), I only had 3 and 5 gallons of wine needing a home. So I had to rummage about and eventually found 3 gallons of various reds (under the stairs, in a cupboard, behind the body-boards) that were ready for bottling. They were

• Elderberry & Blackberry 2009
• Blackberry 2010
• Beaverdale Shiraz (early 2010)

So the first part of the process done. Balckberry near right, Beaverdale Shiraz near left. The white shrink necked bottles just behind them are the mint from last nights bottling, ready now for laying down.  Behind them is the Quickie Pomegranate. Next to them are the Elderberry and Blackberry. And behind them you can see the 5 gallons of Elderflower Blush Quickie. Aso the start of 3 lines of 5 DJ's.

Each gallon delivered a little more than 6 bottles, so we got a treat small glass of the Beavedale shiraz, delicious. The Elderberry & Blackberry was very acidic in comparison, but after being left (forgotten) to breathe for an hour it had transformed, and was much softer, now delicious. So I decided to top up the excess blackberry wine with this, and get a full 1/2 bottle for another time. Then it was on to racking the quickie, and a picture was a must (scuse pun) because I still like seeing a huddle of 5 DJs. It bodes well for a few months down the line.

I'm really pleased with the colour. So here is a note to myself to stabilise it soon, the ferment seems to have stopped. The campden tablets should also help to preserve the colour.