smurfe
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
- Messages
- 3,625
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- 16
I opened a bottle of the Wine Expert 2005 Limited Edition CHILEAN <?:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1LACENAME wt="on">MAIPO</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACE wt="on">VALLEY</ST1LACE> CARMENÈRE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON that I made when I did my Wine Kit Pictorial Tutorial. This is the first bottle of it I have opened since I bottled it right at a year and a half ago.
This has to be the best wine I have made to date. I was immediately met with that distinctive Cabernet aroma and when I poured a glass and gave it a swirl it opened up and has a nose that is just fantastic. I get a hint of leather and cherries. No "kit" smell and best of all, no "kit" taste. I could of done a blind taste test with a commercial wine and not guessed the difference. Very full bodied and the oaking was perfect.
I really had no doubts that this would be a nice wine but I have to say that it really exceeds my expectations. I am still going to try letting it sit another six months to hit the 2 year mark which is my goal for all of my red wines. I have an Amarone over 2 years bottled that still isn't there yet for me. I really just wanted to post for the benefit of the newbies that haven't learned the patience thing yet and drink their wines too soon and are disappointed.
Give them some time. Make some quick drinkers as soon as you can and put those good kits away and let them grow up. Buy the best kit you can afford. The high dollar kits do make a better wine in the long run. I can't wait till it cools off here and I can get back into winemaking mode and try a couple of the Mosti All Juice Kits. But don't blow off the Wine Expert Limited Editions, Estate Series, and Crushendo as these are might fine kits as well. Just remember to give them time.
I will add that all the wines from this series stand to be very good. Both the whites, the Trio Blanco and the Sicilian Grillo are already very good with the Grillo being on the great side. I am not a white wine drinker but that wine has to be one of the best whites I have ever tried, kit or commercial. The Nebbiolo isn't quite there yetand I haven't triedthe Petite Sirah/Zinfandelyet.
This has to be the best wine I have made to date. I was immediately met with that distinctive Cabernet aroma and when I poured a glass and gave it a swirl it opened up and has a nose that is just fantastic. I get a hint of leather and cherries. No "kit" smell and best of all, no "kit" taste. I could of done a blind taste test with a commercial wine and not guessed the difference. Very full bodied and the oaking was perfect.
I really had no doubts that this would be a nice wine but I have to say that it really exceeds my expectations. I am still going to try letting it sit another six months to hit the 2 year mark which is my goal for all of my red wines. I have an Amarone over 2 years bottled that still isn't there yet for me. I really just wanted to post for the benefit of the newbies that haven't learned the patience thing yet and drink their wines too soon and are disappointed.
Give them some time. Make some quick drinkers as soon as you can and put those good kits away and let them grow up. Buy the best kit you can afford. The high dollar kits do make a better wine in the long run. I can't wait till it cools off here and I can get back into winemaking mode and try a couple of the Mosti All Juice Kits. But don't blow off the Wine Expert Limited Editions, Estate Series, and Crushendo as these are might fine kits as well. Just remember to give them time.
I will add that all the wines from this series stand to be very good. Both the whites, the Trio Blanco and the Sicilian Grillo are already very good with the Grillo being on the great side. I am not a white wine drinker but that wine has to be one of the best whites I have ever tried, kit or commercial. The Nebbiolo isn't quite there yetand I haven't triedthe Petite Sirah/Zinfandelyet.