Recent content by CaptainJack

Thanks for the input guys, I'm going to order three different toastings of spirals for use with the current merlot, the upcoming pinot noir and for next years cab. Jack

Hello everyone, Finished our first kit two weeks ago, the Selection Estate Stags Leap Merlot, and I was planning on going the bulk storage route (carboy) for at least 90 days per recommendations. I plan on adding toasted french oak to the carboy and wanted to know if anybody had any experience...

Thanks everyone, I think I'm going with the Lodi this time. And I've checked out the Heron Bay, might try that next year. Jack

Hello Everyone, I've got a pretty good credit at a wine and beer supply house and thought I'd go ahead and get a good Cab to round out my reds. Selection Estate has two; the Lodi Ranch Cab and the Sonoma Valley Cab. The question for all you veterans of the SE kits: is one better than the...

Thanks for the link MN-winer. Great article. Looks like I need to buy another glass carboy if I want start the Selection Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir next week. Need to get primary and secondary fermentation done before the winter comes here in Oregon. Jack

Ok, the "snake pee" (great line by the way) is going in the trash; good thing it didn't cost much. We'll rack it over to our second carboy tonight, without filtering it, and let it sit before we bottle it. The bulk storage thing intrigues me. Is there a break down of Tim Vandergrift's...

Hello all, Just getting ready to rack our NV Stags Leap Merlot to a second carboy after tasting it last night. Wow, these WE Selection kits are something. I've paid $20 for wine that didn't taste as good as this just finished wine does! Got a couple of questions for the more experienced...

Thanks guys, good advise all around. I got an email back from Wine Expert and they seem to confirm that the yeast is the deal to be concerned about and they recomend not waiting more than 18 months (from date on box) to use the kit. Guess I'll fire it up soon. Thanks, Jack

Hello all, Got a question about shelf life of the box kits. I bought a WineExpert Selection Estate Series, Stag's Leap Merlot early last year. It has a code on the top of the box that is 0731207 which translates, I guess, to July 31st, 2007. For reasons to numerous to mention ( as in trying...