Other Decisions, decisions

[Boatboy24]

I'm trying to round out the 2015 plan and have room for 1 more kit. I've narrowed it down to either the Winery Series French Grenache Syrah, or the CC Showcase Chateau du Pays. Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[terroirdejeroir]

Have not made either of the kits your reference, but curious what the rest of the 2015 plan might be....

I am cutting back my kits this year because I have about 43 gallons of wine from grapes/pails, but I am planning on the following kits in 2015:

CC Showcase Amarone
WE Eclipse Stag's Leap Merlot
WE Eclipse Sonoma Pinot Noir
WE Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz
WE Limited Edition Triumph
CC Passport Brunello

 

[geek]

I'm trying to round out the 2015 plan and have room for 1 more kit. I've narrowed it down to either the Winery Series French Grenache Syrah, or the CC Showcase Chateau du Pays. Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Jim,

is the WE Super Tuscan on your list?

 

[Boatboy24]

Jim,

is the WE Super Tuscan on your list?

I kicked it off on Saturday - getting a head start.

 

[geek]

You mean that you placed the order....

I will place mine this weekend right on my bday....

That one is definitively on my list.

 

[Boatboy24]

@terroirdejeroir:

I'll be doing both Chilean and California red grapes, though I'm not sure exactly what just yet - I'm thinking Carmenere/Cab for Chilean, and another blend for CA. For kits, I'll be doing 4 reds (maybe 5, since I got an early start), and maybe one white. So far, the reds are:

Winery Series Super Tuscan (pitched this on on Saturday)
RJS RQ Italian Anglianico
WE LR Shiraz Viognier (90% sure on this one, but not thrilled with their 'Minimum Advertised Price' practice, so I may not)
One more TBD red.

 

[Boatboy24]

You mean that you placed the order....

I will place mine this weekend right on my bday....

That one is definitively on my list.

No, I pitched the yeast. It was on sale, so I struck while the deal was there. I have a carboy available, so I figured: 'why wait'. Interestingly (or not), it was almost exactly two years from the day I stared my first ST.

 

[geek]

No, I pitched the yeast. It was on sale, so I struck while the deal was there. I have a carboy available, so I figured: 'why wait'. Interestingly (or not), it was almost exactly two years from the day I stared my first ST.

No, I meant the WE Super Tuscan, the limited release from WE coming in April but orders need to be placed by this weekend.

Where did you get that WS Super Tuscan on sale and how much?

 

[Boatboy24]

@geek: I'm not doing the WinExpert Super Tuscan, Just the RJS Winery Series. I picked it up when it was one of George's Christmas specials a couple weeks ago. It ended up being $131.58 delivered.

 

[Brian55]

@geek: I'm not doing the WinExpert Super Tuscan, Just the RJS Winery Series. I picked it up when it was one of George's Christmas specials a couple weeks ago. It ended up being $131.58 delivered.

I started the WS Super Tuscan a couple weeks ago. Best tasting unfermented juice of any kit I've done so far. I'm thinking the end product will be amazing.

 

[Brian55]

I'm trying to round out the 2015 plan and have room for 1 more kit. I've narrowed it down to either the Winery Series French Grenache Syrah, or the CC Showcase Chateau du Pays. Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

I've got the CC Chateau du Pays bulk aging, three months in. I just started the WS French Granache Syrah, it's bubbling away in the bucket. They're fairly comparable as far as the taste of the unfermented juice and kit contents. Unless someone here can chime in with long term results on both, I'd go with the one you can find the best deal on.

 

[roger80465]

I started the WS Super Tuscan a couple weeks ago. Best tasting juice of every kit I've done so far. I'm thinking the end product will be amazing.

That is a kit I plan to keep in production at all times. I have one in bulk now and will start another in the spring. My first batch, I added 3 oz French medium cubes for 6 weeks and it is phenomenal. My current batch has no additions. I am still trying to decide if I will add oak. If I do, it will be a Tuscan Oak Blend of cubes from Midwest Supplies. Here is their description of the product:

Rich and balanced. Medium and heavy toast American oak lends a rich flavor profile of sweet vanilla, toffee, caramel, and a light roasted smokiness. Medium and heavy toast French oak adds a subtle spicy, chocolate character and a bold yet balanced tannin structure.​

Hope you like your batch as well as I enjoy mine.

 

[Brian55]

That is a kit I plan to keep in production at all times. I have one in bulk now and will start another in the spring. My first batch, I added 3 oz French medium cubes for 6 weeks and it is phenomenal. My current batch has no additions. I am still trying to decide if I will add oak. If I do, it will be a Tuscan Oak Blend of cubes from Midwest Supplies. Here is their description of the product:

Rich and balanced. Medium and heavy toast American oak lends a rich flavor profile of sweet vanilla, toffee, caramel, and a light roasted smokiness. Medium and heavy toast French oak adds a subtle spicy, chocolate character and a bold yet balanced tannin structure.​

Hope you like your batch as well as I enjoy mine.

I was planning to add medium+ French cubes, since I have them on hand.

Based on the rave reviews and what I'm already tasting, I'm fairly confident that it will end up being one of the best I've made.

 

[Boatboy24]

@Brian55: Thanks for the input. Sounds like I can't go too wrong with either one.

Regarding the Super Tuscan, this is my second. The first is two years old and I should not have waited this long to do it again. I'm down to just a few bottles, and it is great. It gets rave reviews from everyone.

 

[heatherd]

That's a tough call, @Boatboy24. Have you tasted commercial versions of both to know which of the two you prefer?
Heather

 

[heatherd]

I have over 300 bottles of wine in the cellar, but my hubby still noticed that our super tuscan count is under ten. It is so tasty.

 

[Putterrr]

I'm trying to round out the 2015 plan and have room for 1 more kit. I've narrowed it down to either the Winery Series French Grenache Syrah, or the CC Showcase Chateau du Pays. Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

You might want to check on the availability of the Grenache Syrah. My LHBS told me this has been discontinued and they now have a straight Syrah though i cant recall the country. Not showing on the website but my store has the new one on the shelf. I have the Grenache version that was started in September so a long way to go for opinions

cheers

 

[Boatboy24]

That's a tough call, @Boatboy24. Have you tasted commercial versions of both to know which of the two you prefer?
Heather

I like both, that's the hard part. I'm leaning toward the Cellar Craft, though, because I think I like the Chateauneuf du Pape more.

You might want to check on the availability of the Grenache Syrah. My LHBS told me this has been discontinued and they now have a straight Syrah though i cant recall the country. Not showing on the website but my store has the new one on the shelf. I have the Grenache version that was started in September so a long way to go for opinions

cheers

That's exactly the sort of thing that will sway my decision. I jumped on the Showcase Yakima Syrah this time last year when I heard it was being discontinued. I'm glad I did too.

 

[terroirdejeroir]

That's exactly the sort of thing that will sway my decision. I jumped on the Showcase Yakima Syrah this time last year when I heard it was being discontinued. I'm glad I did too.[/QUOTE]

Every time I am reminded of this I shed a little tear. Wonderful kit!