pioneergirl
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- Jan 30, 2012
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I wanted to give you all my very subjective review of the 3 kits I have bottled as a beginner winemaker.
1)Cellar Craft Grand Cru Merlot ($89)- Bottled 3/28/12.
Update 5/31/12- Deviations: used more oak. Opened after 2 wks and was horrible and put that to bottle shock. Opened another bottle or 3 last week of May, 2012: I did not get all the gas out as it was a little effervescent which made the aroma punget. Swirling the glass solved this though to get the gas out. color is great, crisp, ruby. Taste is very good, but still a young taste. It is a very drinkable wine although a little thin or watery - meaning it does not have a lot of body to it or richness. Definitely better than Black Box. Would I make this one again? No. I think I am not a merlot girl. But I will Update again after a little aging.
2) Williams Brewing Zinfandel Kit ($70 juice/yeast only) - Bottled beginning of May, 2012.
Update 5/31/12 - Deviations: Used dif. yeast, oaked, added raisins. Opened a couple of bottles end of May. To me, this tastes o.k. and not great and hardly "good" at this point. I put raisins in this one. I can't even describe why it's not "good" to me yet, but I am wondering if it's the raisins. It does have more body to it, but I think I need to give it more time. Color is good though. Yes it is better than Black Box even a few weeks after bottling- I am just being snobby. Would I do this kit again? Today, No - but I think I need to give time. Will update later.
3) Wine Experts Cabernet Sav ($99) - Started in March '12 and Bottled 1st week or so of May, 2012 (wow great notes carolyn!). Deviations: Used Dif yeast. french oak. Opened many bottles over the last couple of weeks. Great taste! Out of the 3 I've done the best "early" drinker is this one. Great mouth feel, smooth with nice body, tastes and color. I'd do this one again in a heartbeat. I've gifted many away to teachers for teaching my boys and have drank enough to go through 1 case of it already - only 1 case left.
Compare it to a $12-14 commercial bottle here in Idaho (actually it's better and on par with some $22-$28 bottles I've had at local wineries)- pretty much after being bottled. I will try to save some to update over a later time.
1)Cellar Craft Grand Cru Merlot ($89)- Bottled 3/28/12.
Update 5/31/12- Deviations: used more oak. Opened after 2 wks and was horrible and put that to bottle shock. Opened another bottle or 3 last week of May, 2012: I did not get all the gas out as it was a little effervescent which made the aroma punget. Swirling the glass solved this though to get the gas out. color is great, crisp, ruby. Taste is very good, but still a young taste. It is a very drinkable wine although a little thin or watery - meaning it does not have a lot of body to it or richness. Definitely better than Black Box. Would I make this one again? No. I think I am not a merlot girl. But I will Update again after a little aging.
2) Williams Brewing Zinfandel Kit ($70 juice/yeast only) - Bottled beginning of May, 2012.
Update 5/31/12 - Deviations: Used dif. yeast, oaked, added raisins. Opened a couple of bottles end of May. To me, this tastes o.k. and not great and hardly "good" at this point. I put raisins in this one. I can't even describe why it's not "good" to me yet, but I am wondering if it's the raisins. It does have more body to it, but I think I need to give it more time. Color is good though. Yes it is better than Black Box even a few weeks after bottling- I am just being snobby. Would I do this kit again? Today, No - but I think I need to give time. Will update later.
3) Wine Experts Cabernet Sav ($99) - Started in March '12 and Bottled 1st week or so of May, 2012 (wow great notes carolyn!). Deviations: Used Dif yeast. french oak. Opened many bottles over the last couple of weeks. Great taste! Out of the 3 I've done the best "early" drinker is this one. Great mouth feel, smooth with nice body, tastes and color. I'd do this one again in a heartbeat. I've gifted many away to teachers for teaching my boys and have drank enough to go through 1 case of it already - only 1 case left.
Compare it to a $12-14 commercial bottle here in Idaho (actually it's better and on par with some $22-$28 bottles I've had at local wineries)- pretty much after being bottled. I will try to save some to update over a later time.