Cellar Craft CC Show Case Argentina Malbec

[wonderdog]

Anyone have experience with the CC Show Case Argentina Malbec? I'm giving this kit serious consideration for my next one. This will be my third kit so have plenty to try yet. Malbec is a favorite of my daughter, so will have help in consuming it should it compare favorably to commercial bottled Malbec.

 

[robie]

It's a great Malbec, but it is going to take a couple years aging before it compares to a nice commercial Malbec. Same is true for any Malbec kit, although many drink it much earlier.

 

[Bacci]

Today I just bottled one gallon yielding 5 bottles and a nice full glass to sample of my CC ARG Malbec. My glass sample had wonderful color with plum/blackberry fruit notes and firm tannins/light oak and no CO2. My tweaks were adding 1/4 tsp Grand Cru tannin and a small handful of med french oak cubes and had bulk aged the one gallon for 3 months. Made the same tweaks for the 5 gallon carboy portion but going to let bulk age another 3/6 months. After sampling the one gallon, not sure I really need to, this round of vaccum racking the one gallon did a great job on degassing. I would compare today's sample to any $10-$12 Malbec and believe it will be an earlier drinker than many other Showcase kits I've made. Will pop open a bottle in 3 months and decide on bottling the 5 gallon batch.

 

[robie]

Today I just bottled one gallon yielding 5 bottles and a nice full glass to sample of my CC ARG Malbec. My glass sample had wonderful color with plum/blackberry fruit notes and firm tannins/light oak and no CO2. My tweaks were adding 1/4 tsp Grand Cru tannin and a small handful of med french oak cubes and had bulk aged the one gallon for 3 months. Made the same tweaks for the 5 gallon carboy portion but going to let bulk age another 3/6 months. After sampling the one gallon, not sure I really need to, this round of vaccum racking the one gallon did a great job on degassing. I would compare today's sample to any $10-$12 Malbec and believe it will be an earlier drinker than many other Showcase kits I've made. Will pop open a bottle in 3 months and decide on bottling the 5 gallon batch.

Glad it is that good after 3 months. That said, just think how good it will be if well taken care of and aged 2 years (or more).

 

[Bacci]

It struck me how impressive it was with dark color and mouthfeel, after seeing the timely thread I couldn't resist commenting. BTW, I left out the sorbate and only used half the finings at stabilization and didn't add any additional KMS to the one gallon during bulk aging, I think the later two helped with the color and body.

 

[FABulousWines]

Mine has been bulk aging a mere 2 months. I had a sample last weekend and it is shaping up to be very, very good. I didn't add the Hungarian cubes until after it cleared pretty well and left them in for almost 6 weeks. The result was a very solid mouth-feel and a strong oaky flavor which has backed off a little since. Plan is to bottle around the New Year and open the first at Thanksgiving 2014. (That is going to take will power; it is drinkable now). I will definitely be doing one of these kits every year.