What a journey I have started..... to introduce ML or not into my Merlot, which has finished primary ferm, but reads 3.6 PH.
What follows is my current thinking.
PH – Smaller number equals higher acidity.
So 3.0 PH is more acid (logarithmically) than 3.6
If we agree ML reduces Acidity, the PH should move down the scale.(the number getting bigger)
Merlot PH currently reads 3.6 – I would prefer something nearer 3.2 (just what I consider normal).
SO the million dollar question: WHat should I do??
The options are then:
1. Add the ML culture ( I have another at 2.9 that ML would seem a good candidate for this one)
2. For the Merlot – add acid (not citric) to increase the TA
3. Do nothing till December and re test. Perhaps not even racking or sulphating yet to promote good feed bed for natural ML
BUt has ML already happened? Hence low(ish) PH?
Is 3.6 acceptable – I think poss not, but am I wrong?
Haveing read my deep and meaningful books of the subject (Wine Tech and Ops & From grape to marketplace) the only conclusion I can draw is that I have a lot of information on the subject, but very little knowledge.
Chinese proverb: A man with a watch knows the time, a man with two watches not really sure!!
Help!!
What follows is my current thinking.
PH – Smaller number equals higher acidity.
So 3.0 PH is more acid (logarithmically) than 3.6
If we agree ML reduces Acidity, the PH should move down the scale.(the number getting bigger)
Merlot PH currently reads 3.6 – I would prefer something nearer 3.2 (just what I consider normal).
SO the million dollar question: WHat should I do??
The options are then:
1. Add the ML culture ( I have another at 2.9 that ML would seem a good candidate for this one)
2. For the Merlot – add acid (not citric) to increase the TA
3. Do nothing till December and re test. Perhaps not even racking or sulphating yet to promote good feed bed for natural ML
BUt has ML already happened? Hence low(ish) PH?
Is 3.6 acceptable – I think poss not, but am I wrong?
Haveing read my deep and meaningful books of the subject (Wine Tech and Ops & From grape to marketplace) the only conclusion I can draw is that I have a lot of information on the subject, but very little knowledge.
Chinese proverb: A man with a watch knows the time, a man with two watches not really sure!!
Help!!
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