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smurfe · 10-08-2005, 06:53 PM

Just an update from my first kit. It is now 2 months in the bottle. Thought I would give a little report of the progress of my first kit, a VR Italian Pinot Grigio. I started this kit on 06/30/2005 and bottled it on 08/05/2005 I thought I would share my experience with those who cared to read.

I popped one open this afternoon for no particular reason and have to say I am now very pleased. I am not a white wine drinker and was a bit disappointed after bottling this one as I sucked up some sediment in some of the bottles and many have sediment in them now. I was also turned off by I am guessing the SO2 smell as well as the flat, watery taste.

In regards to the sedimentthis will never happen again as I am now a filterer. I know, I know, but hey, I want crystal clear wines and from what I have read, there has been quite a misconception about filtering and from my further projects. I have seen no degradation of my wines.

Anyway, back to the wine. I has an excellent flavor and is as nice as any commercial I have tasted. It has changed my opinion of white wines and will lead me toward making more. I feel the VR kits are under rated in regards to whites. The commercial wines we normally buy are in the $8.00 to $10.00 a bottle range and this is every bit as good as those.

I have never experienced a VR red and can see how they may lack in character but it all depends on what youare looking for I guess. I at times wonder if they can match you standard commercials that run in the $7.00 - $10.00 a bottle range. I would love to make a couple kits that are drinkable soon as I wait for my more complex kits to age.

Ihope my other kits turn out as well. I have a WE Selection White Zin I just bottled which was quite tasty as I was bottling. I also have 2 Cellar Craft Kits (Amorone and Rosso Fortissimo) I just bottled which will defiantly need some aging but really wasn't too bad upon bottling the other day. I think the next kit will be the WEWoodbridge Cabernet Savignon.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings and I wish I knew the wine drinkers lingo/terminology a little better to give you an accurate tasting report in terms that are understood within the culture but hey, all I can tell you is it is damn good and I am going to enjoy the future bottles to come!

Smurfe

masta · 10-08-2005, 07:03 PM

Congrats and when the wine comes out great it is worth the effort!

geocorn · 10-08-2005, 07:14 PM

Congratulations and glad you are pleased. I agree with your assessment on the value. I think the VR kits are comparable to $8-10 bottles of wines. Not too bad for $1.50 per bottle!

smurfe · 10-08-2005, 08:08 PM

I wonder if a VR Cabernet Savignon would be comparable to lets say a Yellow Tail Cabernet Savignon? Yellow Tail in my opinion is a mighty fine wine and cost like $6.99 a bottle around here.

If the VR was comparable, I would make a kit and then a kit like the Woodbridge Cabernet Savignon and drink the VR while waiting for the other to age.

I do remember reading somewhere though that the VR Cabernet Savignon was a little disappointing. Any comments on the quality of the VR compared to like I said a bottle of Yellow Tail or Smoking Loon? Which BTW is another great cheap Cabernet Savignon!

Smurfe

PolishWineP · 10-08-2005, 08:22 PM

Glad to hear you like your VR Italian Pinot Grigio. I enjoy reading what people who don't know all the lingo think of wines. I'm working on the lingo because I think it will help me understand and appreciate the wines more. Maybe a wine tasting sheet would help. If you look under General Wine Questions/Discussion, Wine Tasting Sheets, there's 2 links from Joseph. They'll take you to some wine tasting sheets. I am going to use them not just for parties but for general reference on our wines. As Auntie Mame said to the banker when her nephew served him a drink, "Knowledge is power."

geocorn · 10-08-2005, 08:29 PM

The VR cab is good. It is just that people seem to expect so much more from a cab than any other varietal that I carry. It makes a cab comparable to a Yellow Tail. The flavor is very good, but is a little weak on the body side. On the other hand, if you age it for 2 months with some additional oak, you will add more body.

Angell Wine · 10-08-2005, 09:01 PM

Like George said, put some oak cubes in it. I did my cab this way and it gave a more dry oak taste to it.

Hippie · 10-09-2005, 03:40 AM

Maybe add 4 oz. of dried elderberries to the must with a handful of american chips, then add american cubes when rack to glass. I have a little experience doing that.

smurfe · 10-18-2005, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the great ideas. Sounds like a plan to follow.

Smurfe

smurfe · 11-08-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippie

Maybe add 4 oz. of dried elderberries to the must with a handful of american chips, then add american cubes when rack to glass. I have a little experience doing that.

OK, I am going to follow Hippie's suggestion here. I have a VR Cab kit that I want to start. How much chips and how much cubes do I add? I am gonna order some tonight. I am guessing I want medium or house toast right? Not heavy toast? I believe the kit already has some oak with it so I don't want to over do it. I just want to make a kit that will rival like a bottle of Yellow Tail or Woodbridge Cab.

Smurfe