Sounds like fun. I have made about 100 gallons in last few years from kits. Most have been pretty good. But need to move to grapes since we have such great vineyards locally.
Found it takes at least 18 to 24 months for the kit smell and taste to go away totally. I would put my kit wines up against any $25 wines.
Patience, patience, patience and having lots of other wine ready.
Buy more carboys and let them bulk age 2 years. That way you can tweek easier. Also just taste a small amount every two months, tweek em, and add k-meta. 18 months is a big turning point in kits from average to pretty good.
Give them time..... All of my bulk aging wine really turned the corner at 18 months. I like oak, and have found that once you rack off the oak you lose 50% of the oakiness so aim high. I have 8 carboys aging, all big reds and an empty fermentation bucket but no more carboys. Have to bottle or...
RJS En Primeur Italy Super Tuscan started Jan. 2017. Bulk aged since. Tasted yesterday, really good up front, great body, wonderful finish. Will bottle in two months. Will start another one of these soon.