Recent content by Brian55

At this point I only make select RQ's from RJS, and select LE's from WE. The bulk of my production is from FWK.

If you want a sweet dessert wine, as this kit is intended to produce, add it after fermentation is complete and sorbate has been added. If you want a big dry red, add it at the start. I would recommend adding a bit at a time post fermentation and sorbate, until you reach a sweetness level that...

Nice! I was worried about adding too much, but now I know 8 is a-ok.

I add about 2-6 ounces per 6 gal carboy, depending on the boldness of the red.

It did make top Zin. Regardless, I wouldn't put much value in these types of mass tastings. Nothing beats a blind tasting with a group of friends and/or family.

Yes. Don't recommend it. Get some muslin bags and save yourself a headache.

Unless there has been a recent change that I'm unaware of, Master Vintner kits are just re-boxed Mosti Mondiale kits.

Those white kids and their charcoal...

Two years is when premium kit reds finally start getting good. Some start to fade a bit around four or five years, but some of the best bottles I've enjoyed have been closer to five.

Well that's annoying. I'm not in OH and haven't placed an order in a while but looking back at past invoices they never charged shipping or sales tax for kits, not even on equipment and carboys. So it probably has less to do with recovering shipping costs and more to do with a lazy webmaster...

Home Brew Ohio has been my go to for RJS ever since FVW in TX closed up. Never had an issue with them.

Yes, you can really taste the difference, also the nose is much more pronounced. I would skip the extra oak on a Pinot Noir. Maybe save the stick for a bolder red that can handle extra oak.

Anyone have any feedback on the 14L version yet? Still enjoying the old 18L version and have plenty of bottles of it on hand, but may need to start a 14L in the near future provided it's as good as the old 18L.

They recommend 8 per carboy, but I've found that to be on the weaker side. I would start with that and depending on your preference you can always add more as it ages. It takes a long time for too much oak to dissipate, much easier to add more and age a bit longer if it's not quite where you'd...

Enjoyed the last bottle of a seven year old RJS RQ2015 Chilean Cab/Merlot this past summer. Was excellent from 3 years all the way through the last bottle at 7. That was the oldest kit wine I've had so far. Normally I'll only keep a bottle or two of the better reds until 5 years, but it was...