Anyone done any of the new high end red wine kits. I noticed a few in
the local brew-your-own store that were $140-$150 and I wondering if
they've finally gotten past the usual weak tasting red problems.

Don

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'high-end'. Especially as
prices vary from country to country (ie US vs Canada) and even store
to store.

Do you mean the kits that come with packages of grape skins?

And what brand of kits are you comparing to?

Steve

On Sat, 8 Mar 2008 14:41:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:

>Anyone done any of the new high end red wine kits. I noticed a few in
>the local brew-your-own store that were $140-$150 and I wondering if
>they've finally gotten past the usual weak tasting red problems.
>
>Don

I'm asking generically about the higher end kits ie. $140+ as opposed
to the ~$80 kits that were somewhat thin. The US and Cdn dollar are
about par so "generically" I assume the price is about the same. I'd
be interested in general comments on the real high end red kits. Are
people seeing some very good quality come out of these and how are
they comparing to store bought red say in the $15/bottle range. One
brand I was looking at was the Kenridge (Kendall Ridge) Foundry Series
but I'd guess that the Selection Estate series is in there as well.

Don

> I guess it depends on what you mean by 'high-end'. Especially as
> prices vary from country to country (ie US vs Canada) and even store
> to store.
>
> Do you mean the kits that come with packages of grape skins?
>
> And what brand of kits are you comparing to?
>
> Steve
>
> On Sat, 8 Mar 2008 14:41:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:
> >Anyone done any of the new high end red wine kits. I noticed a few in
> >the local brew-your-own store that were $140-$150 and I wondering if
> >they've finally gotten past the usual weak tasting red problems.
>
> >Don

There is a huge difference in QUALITY.The cheaper ones are good for drinking
as soon as 30 days. Of course the taste is not up to the profile of more
expensive wines. Note this URL
http://home.comcast.net/~jimalexande...makingTips.htm
Its a good source of info for beginners.
Think of it this way, "Good things aren't cheap and cheap things are rarely
good". Start off with some cheap kits so you can drink it sooner. Then, try
an better kit. VIOLA ! You will see and taste the difference.

Tom

--

Home of the
MOON RIVER BREWERY
and
DELANCO VINEYARDS
> wrote in message
...
> Anyone done any of the new high end red wine kits. I noticed a few in
> the local brew-your-own store that were $140-$150 and I wondering if
> they've finally gotten past the usual weak tasting red problems.
>
> Don

> There is a huge difference in QUALITY.The cheaper ones are good for drinking
> as soon as 30 days. Of course the taste is not up to the profile of more
> expensive wines. Note this URLhttp://home.comcast.net/~jimalexander2/BeginningWinemakingTips.htm
> Its a good source of info for beginners.
> Think of it this way, "Good things aren't cheap and cheap things are rarely
> good". Start off with some cheap kits so you can drink it sooner. Then, try
> an better kit. VIOLA ! You will see and taste the difference.

I've made a fair number of kits but learned earlier on to stay away
from the reds, their quality being somewhere between crap and barely
drinkable. Now I'm wondering about these high end red kits, the ones
in the $150 range some of which are coming with grape skin packs. Are
they finally ok?

Don

Don:

Over the years I've been more of a white wine drinker, just getting
more into reds more recently. I have been enjoying Vineco's Ken Ridge
Showcase whites (esp German Gewurztraminer and NZ Sauv Blanc).
Although the NZ SB needed some aging. Will be making the Founders
Series German Riesling later this year probably.

The feedback at winepress.us on the grape skin reds is that they are
GREAT, especially if aged for over 12 months. Because of limited
distribution of Vineco products in the US, there is not much comment
on the Founders Series.

I ran a store until last year, and got some good feedback on the
Founders Series SuperTuscan. But most of my customers drink there
wine quite young.

Steve

Don,
All I can say is try one. That being said we all have different tastes. When
you make a "high end" kit it is best to age them for at least a year before
drinking. Remember the 3 words in winemaking
Patience
Patience
Patience
I would not rush these kits. I keep then aging in the carboy longer before
bottling.
Have you tries "Juice"?
The Chilean juice will be here late April / May.
I do alot of juice from CA, Italy and Chile. Here you have more control for
your taste.
Just my .02

Tom

--

Home of the
MOON RIVER BREWERY
and
DELANCO VINEYARDS
> wrote in message
...
>
>> There is a huge difference in QUALITY.The cheaper ones are good for
>> drinking
>> as soon as 30 days. Of course the taste is not up to the profile of more
>> expensive wines. Note this
>> URLhttp://home.comcast.net/~jimalexander2/BeginningWinemakingTips.htm
>> Its a good source of info for beginners.
>> Think of it this way, "Good things aren't cheap and cheap things are
>> rarely
>> good". Start off with some cheap kits so you can drink it sooner. Then,
>> try
>> an better kit. VIOLA ! You will see and taste the difference.
>
> I've made a fair number of kits but learned earlier on to stay away
> from the reds, their quality being somewhere between crap and barely
> drinkable. Now I'm wondering about these high end red kits, the ones
> in the $150 range some of which are coming with grape skin packs. Are
> they finally ok?
>
> Don

Here is what I have done:

Sel Estate Crushendo Super Tuscan- Winexpert - wow! wow! Was ready in 5
months, but after 12 months, this is just great. $40 a bottle type!

Winexpert Estate Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon - wow! wow ! Nice rich berry,
long tail. Great with pasta, or just sipping. $30 a bottle equivalent.

Winexpert Crushendo! Corvina Classico - If you like Merlot, this is
awesome. $60 a bottle in my mind. I don't even like Merlots typically,
but this one blows me away.

I am convinced the more expensive kits are worth it. But having some
lower end ones for drinking or giving away (so they don't ask for more?
haha) is always good to have in the cellar.

Done 17 kits, and 2 in the secondary now, and 2 still in the box.
DAve
p.s. I always top up with like wine, not water. fyi.


wrote:
> Anyone done any of the new high end red wine kits. I noticed a few in
> the local brew-your-own store that were $140-$150 and I wondering if
> they've finally gotten past the usual weak tasting red problems.
>
> Don

Dave:

Corvina is not Merlot, so you still haven't found a Merlot of your
dreams Corvina is one of the 3 grapes used for Valpolicella and its
higher end brothers, Recioto and Amarone. The other 2 grapes are
Rondinella and Molinara. Are they using Merlot skins in that kit? If
yes, maybe they should call it "Super-Venetian"...

Pp

On Mar 10, 12:32*pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
> Here is what I have done:
>
> Sel Estate Crushendo Super Tuscan- Winexpert - wow! wow! Was ready in 5
> months, but after 12 months, this is just great. $40 a bottle type!
>
> Winexpert Estate Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon - wow! wow ! Nice rich berry,
> long tail. Great with pasta, or just sipping. $30 a bottle equivalent.
>
> Winexpert Crushendo! Corvina Classico - If you like Merlot, this is
> awesome. $60 a bottle in my mind. I don't even like Merlots typically,
> but this one blows me away.
>
> I am convinced the more expensive kits are worth it. But having some
> lower end ones for drinking or giving away (so they don't ask for more?
> haha) is always good to have in the cellar.
>
> Done 17 kits, and 2 in the secondary now, and 2 still in the box.
> DAve
> p.s. I always top up with like wine, not water. fyi.
>

oh. well, then. my taste buds are still not in the Merlot family. smile.
Thanks for the correction. I learn a lot from this NG. I only thought it
tasted like Merlot, so forgive me.

I did forget to mention the Crushendo Zinfindel from Winexpert - (I
won't way wow). It is the 2nd best Zin I've ever had. The other was not
a kit, but I'd love to re-taste test them. smile. Red Zin for me, is
great with rack of lamb. wow. (oops)

DAve

pp wrote:
> Dave:
>
> Corvina is not Merlot, so you still haven't found a Merlot of your
> dreams Corvina is one of the 3 grapes used for Valpolicella and its
> higher end brothers, Recioto and Amarone. The other 2 grapes are
> Rondinella and Molinara. Are they using Merlot skins in that kit? If
> yes, maybe they should call it "Super-Venetian"...
>
> Pp
>
> On Mar 10, 12:32 pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
>> Here is what I have done:
>>
>> Sel Estate Crushendo Super Tuscan- Winexpert - wow! wow! Was ready in 5
>> months, but after 12 months, this is just great. $40 a bottle type!
>>
>> Winexpert Estate Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon - wow! wow ! Nice rich berry,
>> long tail. Great with pasta, or just sipping. $30 a bottle equivalent.
>>
>> Winexpert Crushendo! Corvina Classico - If you like Merlot, this is
>> awesome. $60 a bottle in my mind. I don't even like Merlots typically,
>> but this one blows me away.
>>
>> I am convinced the more expensive kits are worth it. But having some
>> lower end ones for drinking or giving away (so they don't ask for more?
>> haha) is always good to have in the cellar.
>>
>> Done 17 kits, and 2 in the secondary now, and 2 still in the box.
>> DAve
>> p.s. I always top up with like wine, not water. fyi.
>>

On Mar 10, 5:14*pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
> oh. well, then. my taste buds are still not in the Merlot family. smile.
> Thanks for the correction. I learn a lot from this NG. I only thought it
> tasted like Merlot, so forgive me.
>
> I did forget to mention the Crushendo Zinfindel from Winexpert - (I
> won't way wow). It is the 2nd best Zin I've ever had. The other was not
> a kit, but I'd love to re-taste test them. smile. Red Zin for me, is
> great with rack of lamb. wow. (oops)
>
> DAve
>
>
>
> pp wrote:
> > Dave:
>
> > Corvina is not Merlot, so you still haven't found a Merlot of your
> > dreams Corvina is one of the 3 grapes used for Valpolicella and its
> > higher end brothers, Recioto and Amarone. The other 2 grapes are
> > Rondinella and Molinara. Are they using Merlot skins in that kit? If
> > yes, maybe they should call it "Super-Venetian"...
>
> > Pp
>
> > On Mar 10, 12:32 pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
> >> Here is what I have done:
>
> >> Sel Estate Crushendo Super Tuscan- Winexpert - wow! wow! Was ready in 5
> >> months, but after 12 months, this is just great. $40 a bottle type!
>
> >> Winexpert Estate Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon - wow! wow ! Nice rich berry,
> >> long tail. Great with pasta, or just sipping. $30 a bottle equivalent.
>
> >> Winexpert Crushendo! Corvina Classico - If you like Merlot, this is
> >> awesome. $60 a bottle in my mind. I don't even like Merlots typically,
> >> but this one blows me away.
>
> >> I am convinced the more expensive kits are worth it. But having some
> >> lower end ones for drinking or giving away (so they don't ask for more?
> >> haha) is always good to have in the cellar.
>
> >> Done 17 kits, and 2 in the secondary now, and 2 still in the box.
> >> DAve
> >> p.s. I always top up with like wine, not water. fyi.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Dave:

Do you make the kits exactly per instructions or do you modify the
procedure - if so, how? I'm especially interested in the grape skin
kits info.

Thx,

Pp

For all kits, I follow the instructions, except for "topping up" after
stablizing, I add like wine instead (3-6 bottles to fill up my
secondary. IMHO this keeps the red wines strong, than if I added water.
For kits with skins - I do what it says - I believe kits are cook books,
not moon-landings. smile. when I use recipes, I experiment more.
(Just bottled a Cherry Port from recipe - and it has a ton of potential
in a year or so.)

DAve

pp wrote:
> On Mar 10, 5:14 pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
>> oh. well, then. my taste buds are still not in the Merlot family. smile.
>> Thanks for the correction. I learn a lot from this NG. I only thought it
>> tasted like Merlot, so forgive me.
>>
>> I did forget to mention the Crushendo Zinfindel from Winexpert - (I
>> won't way wow). It is the 2nd best Zin I've ever had. The other was not
>> a kit, but I'd love to re-taste test them. smile. Red Zin for me, is
>> great with rack of lamb. wow. (oops)
>>
>> DAve
>>
>>
>>
>> pp wrote:
>>> Dave:
>>> Corvina is not Merlot, so you still haven't found a Merlot of your
>>> dreams Corvina is one of the 3 grapes used for Valpolicella and its
>>> higher end brothers, Recioto and Amarone. The other 2 grapes are
>>> Rondinella and Molinara. Are they using Merlot skins in that kit? If
>>> yes, maybe they should call it "Super-Venetian"...
>>> Pp
>>> On Mar 10, 12:32 pm, Dave Allison > wrote:
>>>> Here is what I have done:
>>>> Sel Estate Crushendo Super Tuscan- Winexpert - wow! wow! Was ready in 5
>>>> months, but after 12 months, this is just great. $40 a bottle type!
>>>> Winexpert Estate Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon - wow! wow ! Nice rich berry,
>>>> long tail. Great with pasta, or just sipping. $30 a bottle equivalent.
>>>> Winexpert Crushendo! Corvina Classico - If you like Merlot, this is
>>>> awesome. $60 a bottle in my mind. I don't even like Merlots typically,
>>>> but this one blows me away.
>>>> I am convinced the more expensive kits are worth it. But having some
>>>> lower end ones for drinking or giving away (so they don't ask for more?
>>>> haha) is always good to have in the cellar.
>>>> Done 17 kits, and 2 in the secondary now, and 2 still in the box.
>>>> DAve
>>>> p.s. I always top up with like wine, not water. fyi.- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Dave:
>
> Do you make the kits exactly per instructions or do you modify the
> procedure - if so, how? I'm especially interested in the grape skin
> kits info.
>
> Thx,
>
> Pp