WineXpert LE Super Tuscan vs Eclipse Barolo

If you had to choose one - the LE super Tuscan or the Eclipse Nebbiolo/Barolo, which do you choose and why?

Why choose? I made both. Both are bulk ageing in the carboy.

Because funds are not unlimited, unfortunately, and I can only afford two. I'm making the Enigma for my wife and am trying to decide which one is for me.

If I had to choose I would go with the Eclipse Nebbiolo.. I made 3 of those kits in the past and it's quite good... it's one of my fave kits..

To be fair I didn't try the Super Tuscan yet due to its young age.

Well, the Super Tuscan is a bit cheaper than the Barolo, right?

To my way of thinking, the fact that the Super Tuscan is a LE kit presents arguments both for and against it. For: You should grab the Super Tuscan while it is available; you can get the Nebbiolo any time! Against: If it turns out great, you will not be able to capitalize on that knowledge by making it in the future.

I just made the Super Tuscan, so I, for some reason, want to encourage you to make it as well. However, I have not made the Barolo/Nebbiolo, so I have no rational basis to do so!

The Super Tuscan is a limited edition , you should get it while you can . The Barolo will wait for you in the store . You could pick it up as soon as you have the funds .

zalai said:

The Super Tuscan is a limited edition , you should get it while you can . The Barolo will wait for you in the store . You could pick it up as soon as you have the funds .

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Makes perfect sense to me!

All good arguments. Trigger pull is tonight. Still thinking.

We have both in stock! only one LE left.
Eclipse Nebbiolo- http://brewandwinesupply.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_18_46_120&product_id=1294
LE Super Tuscan- http://brewandwinesupply.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_18_46_79&product_id=1740

And Free Shipping Too!

Super tuscan

this is now in the process of clearing and my thoughts are make it with enough oak to make it a true super Tuscan ,also the Barolo is very similar to a Sangiovese ,have you seen my threads on this at "when good wines gone bad"

joeswine said:

this is now in the process of clearing and my thoughts are make it with enough oak to make it a true super Tuscan ,also the Barolo is very similar to a Sangiovese ,have you seen my threads on this at "when good wines gone bad"

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Joe - tannins and raisins... Anything else? Will go back to your thread shortly.

The winners are (and purchased for an extraordinarily sweet deal from a site sponsor, btw):

Enigma and the LE Super Tuscan. Ordered this evening from LP. Should be here in just a couple days. I'll probably start one end of July and the other directly after.

Darn, I didn't see that Super Tuscan or I would have ordered it. Instead I have ordered and received an Eclipse Sonoma Dry Creek Chardonnay and the Selection Sangiovese. Saved nearly $40 with shipping included.

Maybe when finished I can tempt you with a Sangiovese and a VR Diablo Rojo (with Chilean grape skins added, just bottled, pretty oaky at this point) for one of those Super Tuscans. If you drive a hard bargain (like most lawyers do) maybe I can swap out in a Chilean Merlot/Cab Sauv/Malbec in place of the Diablo Rojo (tasting excellent already for two months).

I think that can be arranged! I liked that Eclipse Sonoma chard too. But, I'm waiting on my Aussie to age a little more before I buy another one.

Actually, the more I think about it, there is no need for exchanges. It is worth me giving you and your wife a few bottles to get and honest opinion of what you think about them. You both seem to enjoy wine on a regular basis and that has been my measuring stick for sharing my wine to other "tasters" in the past.

What we need to do is make a big "to do" list and use our resources to knock the different kits out one at a time, sharing a few bottles with each other as they get properly aged so we can figure out what we each enjoy and don't enjoy as much.

For example, the Diablo Rojo I just did had a very small f-pack (could fit in the palm of your hand) that added enough sweetness that even at this early age is showing through the oak. Sounds like that after it ages 6 months to a year might be a wine that matches your wife's "I like" semi-dry profile.

They're scheduled for delivery some time today... Amazing.

Craig, it will be a few months at least until I have something ready to open.

If you ever get a chance, get the Eclipse Nebbiolo (Barolo). I just did my 3rd and it is one of the best that I have done. I have not found any LE kit to be as good. I bought a LE Nebbiolo a few years ago to compare to a Mosti Mondial Magliolo and WE Eclipse Barolo that I fermented at the same time. Both the Maglioli and Eclipse blew the LE kit away. I have done 3 LE kits, all with grape skins, and they all turned out to be very light table wines IMO. I hope yours turns out better.

jgmann67 said:

They're scheduled for delivery some time today... Amazing.

Craig, it will be a few months at least until I have something ready to open.

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Jim, I'm on your same schedule. Christmas at the earliest for the whites. Should probably wait till this time next year to actually start sampling the reds. That's why I made the VR Diablo Rojo, so I'd have something red this fall to sample. I think the VR kits get better quicker but don't improve much after a year. The 3/4 of a bottle left over from that kit was actually much better than I thought last night, very drinkable. I still have the dry oak aftertaste in my mouth this morning.

I think you are much better off making the higher end kits like you have been and waiting until they get good. Like you I hate paying the State run monopoly for wine until they age.

chrisjw said:

If you ever get a chance, get the Eclipse Nebbiolo (Barolo). I just did my 3rd and it is one of the best that I have done. I have not found any LE kit to be as good. I bought a LE Nebbiolo a few years ago to compare to a Mosti Mondial Magliolo and WE Eclipse Barolo that I fermented at the same time. Both the Maglioli and Eclipse blew the LE kit away. I have done 3 LE kits, all with grape skins, and they all turned out to be very light table wines IMO. I hope yours turns out better.

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Chris - the LE Super Tuscan is anything but light so far. It's in the Carboy now. It's dark and dense like the Eclipse Merlot that I have aging next to it.