Hi all:

I posted recently about an Island Mist kit I had recently done. It was a
black raspberry merlot, and from a couple of tastings before I racked it,
thought I had made a grave error in buying it. It was very sweet, not
pleasing at all to my palate - I believe my original description was 'mildly
alcoholic Kool-Aid.' At the time I was looking for ways to save it.

Turns out, I should have been more patient. I gave it another ten days in
the carboy to clear a bit more, then filtered and bottled it last night. The
finished product is a pleasant surprise. While it remains rather sweet for
me, and I'm not sure if I'll make it again, it's a nice, light, refreshing
beverage, good for a summer/fall party I'm thinking, and it's better served
cold. It would probably be better suited to people who really don't like
wine a whole lot, it's more like a cooler than anything. But certainly
drinkable, and I wouldn't be afraid to give it as a gift.

Sorry if I scared anyone off Island Mist kits. The black raspberry really
isn't bad at all. I did however take back the white strawberry that i
purchased at the same time, traded it in for a good, safe French savignon
blanc.

KD