Chateau Fletty Barrel Select NHC07

Category 25: Melomel (Fruit Mead)

Gold Medal

Sponsored by Bacchus & Barleycorn
Steve Fletty, Falcon Heights, MN, Pyment (Grape Melomel), Saint Paul Homebrewers Club

2007 Meadmaker of the Year
"Chateau Fletty Barrel Select"

Sparkling Medium Orange Blossom Riesling Pyment

Ingredients for 6 U.S. gallons (22.7 L)

12.0    lb (5.44 kg) orange blossom honey

3.0       gallons (11.4 L) Riesling juice

2.0       gallons (7.6 L) water

Wyeast No. 3783 Rudesheimer wine yeast

1 cup honey added at kegging (to prime)

Original Specific Gravity: 1.129

Final Specific Gravity: 1.006

Boiling Time: n/a

Primary Fermentation: 36 days at 68° F (20° C) in glass

Secondary Fermentation: 14 days at 68° F (20° C) in glass

Tertiary Fermentation: 44 days at 68° F (20° C) in glass

Judges' Comments

"Great blend of Riesling and orange blossom. A little acidic booze gives a nice warm character that's not solventy."

"Very pleasant blend of honey sweetness and grape balance. Well made, very clean."