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Sour grapes which Malbec did you prefer the WE or the CC?

Some juice buckets actually are made from concentrate and then have water addded so quality can vary. I agree try top end kits with grape skins. I would caution about back sweetening as the grapes you mentioned are usually dry.

I personally like the Eclipse kits especially the Zin and Shiraz. However it is all about personal tastes. My suggestion is to try and figure out what these kits are missing relative to your likes and preferences. Is it oak? We prefer our reds to store bought 20 to 25 dollar wines. Are you...

I don’t filter. My belief is that it introduces some oxygen and removes some flavour in full bodied reds. However I occasionally get a small amount of sediment if I don’t bulk age.

I have been making high end reds for many years. I tended to focus on the Special Releases mostly Cab blends. A few years ago my supplies were down and I tried a different strategy. I bought the Eclipse Zinfandel, Shiraz, Nebuolia, Cabernet and Forsa. I also started a Petite Verdot...

The Eclipse.Zin is awesome. I do find I don’t get the 30 bottles because there is a lot of sediment. I also top up with wine so the net is less than the final bottle count. I do agree that the wine improves over 18 months but there are no harsh edges even when first made.

I have done brewing during 3 different periods in my life. As a teenager I made wine with whatever fruit I could get. Emphasis was not on quality. In my early 20’s I made beer kits. They were fine but not exceptional. I’m now 60 and have been making high end kits since 2001. I do mostly...

The Eclipse Zin has is our all time favourite in almost 20 years of wine making. I cannot comment on the blend other than to say good wines come from Chile and this is one of many blends that resemble a Bordeau type.

Ours is 2 plus years. It is one of our favourites.

It is the Lodi Ranch.

Anyone know how this Eclipse kit compares to the RJS South African top end kit? Also with age do these kits lose their tartness? I had friends do a blind taste test comparing a mid-priced SB (Grand Cru) to Selection kit a few years ago. The mid priced kit won in blind test tests as it was a...

I made a bunch of Eclipse kits about 30 months ago (give or take depending on the kit). We love the Zin and the Shiraz. However the Cab is fairly ordinary. Are others finding the same thing? I did no tweaking. Are there other Cab kits you would recommend?

Good advice. Mine is still a little harsh but opens up. Never really decanted before but have learned something. Do you think it the tannins that cause it be slow maturing?

Do you like the top end RJS better than the Eclipse? The Eclipse Zin has been our all time fav.

I suspect the white would be not be dry. I did a limited release Sauvignon Blanc Semillion. It did not have a sweetener but was too sweet for my taste. It is the only batch that I don’t seem to run out of. I’m still looking for that ideal white that is fruity but tart. Any thoughts?

What was the issue with the Winexpert one? I generally like the Eclipse series and I have made the Nebbiollo. It was good but not one of my favorites.

Good point. I do use a plastic bucket with a seal. Now with the Winexpert kits advising doing the entire fermentation in the primary and exposing air to the must by punching down the grape skins I do worry about exposure to air.

I don't seem to be getting a seal with one of my primary fermentors. It looks fine. Only thing I can fathom is that the rubber seal is worn. Any ideas or should I chuck it? Tks

Just bottled the Shiraz Voignier and the Two Roads Red (Zin/Cab/Petite Sirah). The Two Roads Red is already quite drinkable at 4 months (no sharp or overpowering tastes) but doesn't have a lot of depth. Hopefully some aging will help. The Shiraz Voignier show a lot of complexity. I think it has...

I held off until recently. Wine is very similar to wine I have had in France. The wine is not overly full bodied but that was my experience with the wines I sampled. I was in Sablet. Other areas my vary but varietals were the same or similar to nocturnal.