Solomon Grundy Platinum Kits

[markle]

Ive purchased a few Solomon grundy platinum kits (rose, italian red and a merlot) already completed the rose and have put the italian red on today but im a bit confused as when i took the SG of the rose it was about 1064 which worked out aprox 8.5% ABV and the italian red i started today was about 1056 so the approx ABV would of been roughly 7.5% ABV but i just added some sugar and got it up to about 1076..now surely im not the only one in thinking thats a little bit too low!? i followed the instructions perfectly i was keeping track of the temp when doing the first steps so i just cant understand why the reading was so low. Can anybody help me please??
Thanks

[Geezah]

Did you add the correct amount of sugar?
Was everything thrashed in well? If the concetrate and sugar wasn't sufficiently dessolved then that would give a low OG
Did you add the correct amount of water? Is your fv calibrated?

[markle]

The kits arent supposed to have any sugar added as it is already in the concentrate. also yes i did add the correct amount of water to my fv which is correct!! :

[stueyd]

I've just put a Merlot on last night and it was at about 1080-1084

[markle]

Stueyd I've just put my merlot on and it was around 1.074 approx so think that'll work out about 10-11% how has yours turned out?taste any good yet?

[EoinMag]

The kits arent supposed to have any sugar added as it is already in the concentrate. also yes i did add the correct amount of water to my fv which is correct!! :

Did you mix it up sufficiently after adding the concentrate, if you don't mix it well you can get all the heavy sugars dropping to the bottom in a stratified layer and the top will have a totally different gravity to the bottom?

[markle]

The kits arent supposed to have any sugar added as it is already in the concentrate. also yes i did add the correct amount of water to my fv which is correct!! :

Did you mix it up sufficiently after adding the concentrate, if you don't mix it well you can get all the heavy sugars dropping to the bottom in a stratified layer and the top will have a totally different gravity to the bottom?

Tbh mate that's what I think I done wrong as I put on a merlot today and gave it a reading before stirring and then it dawned on me that logically it needs a stir to proper mix together so hopefully if got it right this time round although the italian red didn't come out that bad :S cheers for the suggestion

[stueyd]

[quote="markle"]Stueyd I've just put my merlot on and it was around 1.074 approx so think that'll work out about 10-11% how has yours turned out?taste any good yet?[/quote]

Hey Markle,
Yes has come out nice.. I'm finding some of my wines a little fizzy on the tongue but if aired for a bit it really mellows out.
The flavour is getting better the longer it is aged, it's perfectly drinkable now and will hold a few back for some months to see how they turn out.

All the best
Stu

[DeadFall]

Stueyd I've just put my merlot on and it was around 1.074 approx so think that'll work out about 10-11% how has yours turned out?taste any good yet?

Hey Markle,
Yes has come out nice.. I'm finding some of my wines a little fizzy on the tongue but if aired for a bit it really mellows out.
The flavour is getting better the longer it is aged, it's perfectly drinkable now and will hold a few back for some months to see how they turn out.

All the best
Stu

Sounds like you've not degassed properly or have bottled a wee bit early.