My own garrafeira?

[Eric Ifune]

I may be inspired, but maybe just crazy. Following a couple of threads on the forum here has done it to me.
Peter Reutter on the Madeira forum has been talking about his blending experiments in a 10 liter demijohn. Dirk Niepoort has mentioned his garrafeira wines on his guest thread. I'm wondering if I can get ahold of a demijohn, fill it up with some good unfiltered LBV, and age it for awhile; what will happen?
Am I just crazy?

[Eric Menchen]

I don't think so. I don't know where you can get a 10 liter demijohn, but you can buy a 3 gallon carboy here. I would think 2 year old VP might be better for your experiment, but I'm guessing you suggested unfiltered LBV since that would be considerably cheaper. You will want to be very careful in transferring to the vessel to avoid oxidation. Purge it with CO2 and siphon from the bottles?

[Peter W. Meek]

...and more carboys and accessories: (including a 54 liter/5 gallon teardrop shaped demijohn)

http://www.homebrewit.com/wine-making-carboys.php

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

Ask Dirk as your last question, before he is no longer on the GC. Nobody will have a better answer!

[Eric Ifune]

Yes, I mentioned a LBV since I'd hate to waste a whole case of VP on an experiment.
I hope Dirk is still around.

[Derek T.]

Eric,

I think Dirk fills his Demijohns with port that has been aged in wood for 7 years - i.e. un-filtered (or perhaps even lightly-filtered) Colhieta.

I don't think using VP or un-fitered LBV would give you a fighting chance of replicating the Garrafeira style. Perhaps you need to find a friendly producer of good quality Colhieta who would supply you with some lightly-filtered juice at a very reasonable cost?

Derek