Recent content by jbrown

I had 1 bottle left from a 2014 batch that I was saving for a special occasion down in the cellar. Cracked it tonight for a date with the wife and it was fantastic. This kit has some real aging potential. One of my all-time favorites.

Can anyone compare how this one compares to the LE? I did the LE and as jgmann67 mentioned, it was simply outstanding, especially after about 2 years.

Never had a stuck fermentation in the 5+ years I've been brewing (knock on wood). Just make sure the must is in the correct temperature range (low 70's is usually perfect) and make sure the yeast isn't expired and has been stored in ideal (cool) conditions. Also, I almost always sub out...

According to kuziwk's post above, it appears that the 14L red kits do include skins, although I also didn't see it mentioned on my HBS's website either.

Whew, just catching up on things as I had a backlog of kits I've been working through and life had sped on by for a while. Thanks to the current world events, I am now getting re-aligned! I just saw the new VineCo/WE websites and am a little skeptical like everyone else it seems. Hard to...

I'll be doing the Barbaresco and that is all. Really disappointed to see an LE Lodi Cab without skins, I don't understand.

At about 5 months, I think I might like this one. I was skeptical as I felt that it didn't come with enough oak. But something in me decided to hold off on adding more this time. I am glad I did...it does seem a little fruity but not a sweet fruity. It's a slightly different flavor profile...

My wife and I had a friend over for dinner last night and he happens to be in a wine tasting group, so he does have an appreciation for good wine. So of course, we broke out a few bottles during dinner, the first being an Eclipse Barolo and the second being one of my Triumphs. The wife and I...

RJ Spagnols En Primeur Winery Series Super Tuscan Thanks!

Just racked this one the other day. It's at 6 months right now and considering its age, it is nothing short of spectacular. Very smooth and full-bodied with a nice black cherry streak. Can't wait to try this one in another year or so. Undoubtedly this is my best tasting at 6 months, and...

I just cracked my first bottle from a June 2015 batch and wow. If this gets better over the next year, that will be some darn good wine. Not sure it will make it that far...

Fingers crossed! :r

I will second the Winexpert Lodi Ranch Eclipse kit, and for me it needed 2 years before it really shined. It produces a really nice full-bodied wine however, a $100 bottle of wine it was not...

I just finished drinking a batch of this '13 LE (save 3 bottles) and have now moved on to my Cab Merlot LE from the same year. Both very good, however it is clear to me (in my case) that the Shiraz Cab likely could have benefited from extra time even at 1.5 years, maybe due to the extra...

Leaning towards the RQ Cab and Merlot because I've never done French grapes nor have I done an RQ before, let alone an RJS kit. Done a few WE LEs each from the past few years. Also, both of these come with dried GS, which I have never used before. Admittedly though, the WE Cab Franc intrigues...