Cellar Craft CC Showcase 2010 Limited Release Cabernet/Shiraz

[ibglowin]

Have had this one since January waiting for an open carboy and its his turn finally. Pitched the yeast yesterday and this AM he is off to the races. Starting SG was 1.102 with the grape pack. The grape pack had a big blog of off white/grey goop that at first looked like mold growing. I opened it and smelled it and it seemed like it was OK so went ahead and dumped it into the mesh bag. I believe others have said they had the same thing in their kits as well. This one also has the new Enzyme Pack that gets added in secondary after the gross lees are removed. So fingers crossed that all goes well. The born on date was 12/22/2009 so its only about 2.5 months old and like I said I have had it sitting for a couple of months so I think when it was dropped off on my doorstep it was only 3 weeks old!

Comes with 2 types of oak. A bag of Hungarian oak shavings that are added in primary as well as a bag of Hungarian oak cubes that are added in secondary and they even tell you to rack off at 3 weeks on the bag.

High hopes for this one!

7 hours post yeast pitch.

24 hours post yeast pitch.

Looks good and smells as usual wonderful!

 

[vcasey]

Looks fantastic!
I was considering this kit, but went with the Tannet instead.

 

[ibglowin]

Have you started your Tannet yet? Keep us posted!

 

[vcasey]

Have you started your Tannet yet? Keep us posted!

No not yet I will be bottling my RQs from last year and then I'll start the Tannet and the Australian Petit Verdot. I just added kmeta to everyone so it'll be at least a week or 2. But yes I'll take pics and post when I start.

 

[ibglowin]

Is this not only a fantastic but also a forgiving hobby or what!

I racked this guy in preparation for bottling in a few weeks today and as I get to the end of the carboy I start seeing a bunch of nice square cubes at the bottom........

That's right, I forgot to rack off the oak "beans" and they have been in there for 6 months!

Took a sample from the carboy and couldn't believe my taste buds, it was not over oaked at all and really quite good. Still pretty young/green but nice fruit, nice oak, nice acidity. All in all very pleased in the blend of these two grapes. I think its going to be a really great one in another 6-12 months but really pleasantly surprised at how good it is at 6 months.

 

[fivebk]

Sounds great!!!!!

BOB

 

[robie]

Still pretty young/green but nice fruit, nice oak, nice acidity. All in all very pleased in the blend of these two grapes. I think its going to be a really great one in another 6-12 months but really pleasantly surprised at how good it is at 6 months.

I made this same kit in January of this year. It's bulk aging and 8 months old but still tastes very young. I am a little surprised that it is so slow coming around. However, I believe that for this guy, slowness is an indication that something good is forthcoming. IMO, lots of TDS for a kit wine.

Right now I don't consider mine drinkable. I figure it will be OK by January, 2011 and really nice by January, 2012.

I figure I am going to add some more oak to mine and bottle it in November; maybe sample a 375 ml bottle in January.

 

[ibglowin]

I was thinking I would throw mine in the new Vadai for a week or two but then I found my little surprises at the bottom of my carboy.......

I don't think this kit came with as much oak as the Red Mountain Cab, Seems like there was only about 25 beans in there.

 

[Scott B]

I did the same thing on a Barbera kit. Only 3 months bulk aging on the oak. Wow was it good.

 

[tonyt]

Don't you love the smell of newly fermenting wine. I can smell yours Mike all the way down here on the Gulf Coast. I think it was that great smell that hooked me, well that and drinking the finished wine. I love that last crusty picture. I still want to start a Cabernet soon but can't decide which one. Kind of waiting to see what new kits come out in the next few weeks. I believe the new pre-order lists will be out soon.