red blend ideas

[tullamore]

love neutral barrels-my wines sit in there for 1.5 to 2 years - all are neutral as well - 10-15 years old -american , french and hungarian
re-cooped 2 times - from 60 -225 litres
never made kit wines so i don't know how long to oak

 

[winemaker81]

We've added a few blends from our members, and a few commercial blends.

WMT:

tullamore – Alicante 60%, Muscat 40%
tullamore – Barbera 90%, Petite Sirah 10%
tullamore – Barbera 85%, Petite Sirah 15%
CDrew – Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Aglianico 5%
tullamore – Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Petite Sirah 5%
tullamore – Barbera 60%, Dolcetto 30%, Nebbiolo 10%
Nebbiolo020 – Cabernet Franc 85% , Merlot 5%, Carmenere 5%, 5% Alicante Bouschet 5%
Mainshipfred – Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Petit Verdot 12%, Tannat 8%
Guasto-IS – Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Petit Verdot 4%, Malbec 2%
DistanceRunner – Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 10%
NCWC – Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 13%, Sangiovese 10%
Meadini – Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 30%, Syrah 20%
Chuck E – Carmenere 50%, Malbec 50%
winemaker81 – Grenache 62.5%, Syrah 37.5%, Mourvedre 12.5%
Meadini – Grenache 50%, Syrah 25%, Merlot 25%
winemaker81 – Merlot 67%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8.3%, Cabernet Franc 8.25%, Petit Verdot 8.25%, Malbec 8.25%
Jbu50 – Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Petit Verdot 20%, Malbec 10%, Cabernet Franc 10%
winemaker81 – Merlot 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 5%, Malbec 5%
justsgm – Nebbiolo 90%, Petite Sirah 10%
CDrew – Primitivo 60%, Syrah 40%
tullamore – Sangiovese 85%, Sagrantino 15%
justsgm – Sangiovese 75%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%, Alicante 5%
Meadini – Sangiovese 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Merlot 15%
tullamore – Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Syrah 5%
Mainshipfred – Sangiovese 60%, Nebbiolo 20%, Alicante 20%
winemaker81 – Sangiovese 50%, Montipulciano 12.5%, Nebbiolo 12.5%, Nero D'avoia 12.5%, Sagrantino 12.5%
Mac60 – Sangiovese 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Merlot 15%, Petite Sirah 5%
NCWC, Sangiovese 42%, Cabernet Sauvignon 21%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 5.5%, Petite Sirah 5.5%
buzi – Sangiovese 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 20%
winemaker81 – Syrah 33.30%, Petite Sirah 33.30%, Merlot 33.30%
Dom1950 – Zinfandel 75%, Alicante 25%
Chuck E – Zinfandel 75%, Petit Syrah 25%
Mac60 – Zinfandel 75%, Syrah 13%, Petite Sirah 7%, Merlot 5%
Kraffty – Zinfandel 50%, Merlot 20%, Malbec 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Commercial:

McGregor Winery – Rob Roy Blend – Cabernet Fran 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Merlot 20%
Justin Vineyards – Isosceles – Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Merlo 10%
San Acacia Cellars – Caballo Muerto – Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Merlot 9%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Malbec 2%, Petite Verdot 2%
Chateau Bellevue – Bordeaux – Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 10%
Tentation de Dalem – Fronsac – Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc 5%
Latitud 42 – Rioja Reserva – Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5%

 

[winemaker81]

love neutral barrels-my wines sit in there for 1.5 to 2 years - all are neutral as well - 10-15 years old -american , french and hungarian
re-cooped 2 times - from 60 -225 litres
never made kit wines so i don't know how long to oak

I have found that I generally prefer Hungarian oak, but for the FWK went with the supplied oak. Not for cost; I decided to trust Matteo's judgment.

Regarding time in barrel? IMO it's not any different from grape. I do about 12 months in barrel -- mine are 54 liter neutral, so oak flavoring is not an issue, just the concentration effect. When this year's wine is ready for barrel, I bottle last year's, clean the barrels, and fill 'em back up.

If I made cheap kits, I might do things differently, but for FWK, WE, and RJS, I treat 'em like grape.

 

[tullamore]

I have found that I generally prefer Hungarian oak, but for the FWK went with the supplied oak. Not for cost; I decided to trust Matteo's judgment.

Regarding time in barrel? IMO it's not any different from grape. I do about 12 months in barrel -- mine are 54 liter neutral, so oak flavoring is not an issue, just the concentration effect. When this year's wine is ready for barrel, I bottle last year's, clean the barrels, and fill 'em back up.

If I made cheap kits, I might do things differently, but for FWK, WE, and RJS, I treat 'em like grape.

that's the beauty of wine making - many different opinions - especially when it comes to the type of oak used -
what is the self life the kit wines?
always made wine from grapes - so i have no idea -

 

[winemaker81]

that's the beauty of wine making - many different opinions options - especially when it comes to the type of oak used

While your statement is quite true, I like the change of wording better.

what is the self life the kit wines?

It varies a lot by kit brand and quality, but I'll take a stab at making some general statements. First, consider that 90% of the world's wine production is designed for consumption within 3 years, so kits lasting longer is a good thing.

I chaptalized an Island Mist Green Apple / Riesling to wine strength ("fun wine" kits are typically 7% ABV), and the last 2 bottles were consumed at the 7 year mark. The longevity honestly surprised me, as Island Mist are not high end kits and this was a white. Made as per instructions, they're good for a year or two.

Most decent quality red kits should be good for at least 3 to 5 years. Some that I've made have lasted that long, kits such as the WE Reserve line. I don't make lesser quality kits, as they don't fit my needs.

I think someone from Label Peelers commented that FWK should be good for 5 years. Based upon the tannin and ABV, I expect to get as much as 7 years from the the Forte line. This includes 2 skin packs, a seed pack, and I add a maceration enzyme (ScottZyme ColorPro) and fermentation oak. The kits include aging oak cubes.

The FWK Tavola (no skin packs) line should be good for at least 3 years, probably 5. Mine will be gone by then, as I made them for quicker drinking. At this time I make grape and FWK Forte for aging, and FWK Tavola (no skin packs) for quicker drinking.

In general, decent quality white kits should be good for 2 to 4 years, depending on kit brand, quality level, and grape variety.

The above is (hopefully) educated guesses on my part. FWK hasn't been around long enough to prove longevity, but I'm keeping notes on mine. I'm planning to put away 2 bottles of each Tavola kit to taste on the 4th and 5th anniversaries to see how they last.

 

[Nebbiolo020]

A local winery near where I live produces a interesting blend 55% Zinfandel 45% Cabernet Sauvignon which works out surprisingly well because you get the big bold fruit from the Zinfandel and the body from the cab which works out well.

My personal blend and a wine I make yearly for friends and family is 85% Cabernet Franc 5% Merlot 5% Carmenere and 5% Alicante Bouschet I add the touch of Alicante bouschet for color purposes.

 

[winemaker81]

A local winery near where I live produces a interesting blend 55% Zinfandel 45% Cabernet Sauvignon which works out surprisingly well because you get the big bold fruit from the Zinfandel and the body from the cab which works out well.

which winery?

 

[winemaker81]

I added a new section at the bottom!

WMT - red grapes:

tullamore – Alicante 60%, Muscat 40%
tullamore – Barbera 90%, Petite Sirah 10%
tullamore – Barbera 85%, Petite Sirah 15%
CDrew – Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Aglianico 5%
tullamore – Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Petite Sirah 5%
tullamore – Barbera 60%, Dolcetto 30%, Nebbiolo 10%
Nebbiolo020 – Cabernet Franc 85% , Merlot 5%, Carmenere 5%, 5% Alicante Bouschet 5%
Mainshipfred – Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Petit Verdot 12%, Tannat 8%
Guasto-IS – Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Petit Verdot 4%, Malbec 2%
DistanceRunner – Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 10%
NCWC – Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 13%, Sangiovese 10%
Meadini – Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 30%, Syrah 20%
Chuck E – Carmenere 50%, Malbec 50%
winemaker81 – Grenache 62.5%, Syrah 37.5%, Mourvedre 12.5%
Meadini – Grenache 50%, Syrah 25%, Merlot 25%
winemaker81 – Merlot 67%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8.3%, Cabernet Franc 8.25%, Petit Verdot 8.25%, Malbec 8.25%
Jbu50 – Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Petit Verdot 20%, Malbec 10%, Cabernet Franc 10%
winemaker81 – Merlot 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 5%, Malbec 5%
justsgm – Nebbiolo 90%, Petite Sirah 10%
CDrew – Primitivo 60%, Syrah 40%
tullamore – Sangiovese 85%, Sagrantino 15%
justsgm – Sangiovese 75%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%, Alicante 5%
Meadini – Sangiovese 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Merlot 15%
tullamore – Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Syrah 5%
Mainshipfred – Sangiovese 60%, Nebbiolo 20%, Alicante 20%
winemaker81 – Sangiovese 50%, Montipulciano 12.5%, Nebbiolo 12.5%, Nero D'avoia 12.5%, Sagrantino 12.5%
Mac60 – Sangiovese 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Merlot 15%, Petite Sirah 5%
NCWC, Sangiovese 42%, Cabernet Sauvignon 21%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 5.5%, Petite Sirah 5.5%
buzi – Sangiovese 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 20%
winemaker81 – Syrah 33.30%, Petite Sirah 33.30%, Merlot 33.30%
Dom1950 – Zinfandel 75%, Alicante 25%
Chuck E – Zinfandel 75%, Petit Syrah 25%
Mac60 – Zinfandel 75%, Syrah 13%, Petite Sirah 7%, Merlot 5%
Kraffty – Zinfandel 50%, Merlot 20%, Malbec 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Commercial - red grapes:

McGregor Winery – Rob Roy Blend – Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Merlot 20%
Justin Vineyards – Isosceles – Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Merlo 10%
San Acacia Cellars – Caballo Muerto – Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Merlot 9%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Malbec 2%, Petite Verdot 2%
Chateau Bellevue – Bordeaux – Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 10%
Tentation de Dalem – Fronsac – Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc 5%
Latitud 42 – Rioja Reserva – Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5%

Commercial - white grapes:

Chateau Belingard – Reserve Monbazillac – Semillion 70%, Muscadelle 15%, Sauvignon Blanc 15%