Other I'm making progress!

[Boatboy24]

I've had a busy couple weeks in the wine lab. Several new batches were started, I've prepped my new Vadai and will be putting my first wine into it tomorrow. I also have three kits that were started in July and early August that are about ready. One was bottled this morning (Red Mountain Trio), and two others were taste tested (there's something seriously wrong with you when you are sampling wine at 5am). I just finished doing a more formal tasting with the Red Mountain Trio, a Vino Italiano Cab that I started in April and bottled several months back, and a commercial Syrah (J. Lohr Paso Robles). I'm happy to report that the RMT is a definite winner. Really, really good wine at only five months. The cab isn't bad at all for two bucks a bottle. And the J Lohr I think is comparable to my CC Sterling Syrah that was sampled this morning. I added some Tancor Grand Cru to that Syrah, so I suspect it will surpass it's commercial counterpart soon.

Thanks to all of you on this site that have answered questions, provided encouragement, or simply kept the site going. I've wanted to try winemaking for years and I think I'm light years ahead of where I would have been had I not found this place.

Jim

 

[Rocky]

"One was bottled this morning (Red Mountain Trio), and two others were taste tested (there's something seriously wrong with you when you are sampling wine at 5am)."

Jim, The only thing wrong with this is if that is the only time you drink wine. As I like to say, "Wine...it's not just for breakfast anymore!"

 

[Boatboy24]

Well, that's true, Rocky. It is grape juice, after all.

And technically, it was only 2am on the west coast. So it was a night cap of sorts.

 

[RegionRat]

Do any of you remember the song, "Dad is great! He Gives us Chocolate Cake"

RR

 

[Boatboy24]

Do any of you remember the song, "Dad is great! He Gives us Chocolate Cake"

RR

Bill Cosby. Of course I remember.

 

[RegionRat]

And the J Lohr I think is comparable to my CC Sterling Syrah that was sampled this morning. I added some Tancor Grand Cru to that Syrah, so I suspect it will surpass it's commercial counterpart soon.

Thanks to all of you on this site that have answered questions, provided encouragement, or simply kept the site going. I've wanted to try winemaking for years and I think I'm light years ahead of where I would have been had I not found this place.

Jim

I have to agree with you about this sight. What a happy place.....

Anyway. You are saying the CC Sterling compares to taste of the J Lohr? We have been enjoying J Lohr for quite some time. If so I would like to make it but I cant seem to find it in stock anywhere. CC has 2 others I have found a 'Cellar Classic Winery Series California Syrah' and 'Cellar Craft International Yakima Valley Syrah.' They both have grape skin packs. How would you think they would compare to they J Lohr?

RR

 

[Boatboy24]

In fairness, I doctored the CC Sterling. I added some dried blueberries, and cherries, as well as a sliced banana to the primary. I've also given it a decent dose of Hungarian and French Oak, as well as some Tancor Grand Cru. To me though, the J Lohr has a bit of a "concord grape juice" flavor to it, but has more peppery notes. Mine is fruity, but defnintely still a Syrah. If I had to choose, I think I'd go with the Sterling, or try the Winery Series to match the Lohr. Obviously, there will be a very big price difference between the Winery Series and the Sterling, so take that into account.

I've long been a fan of the J. Lohr Cabernet. I don't think the Syrah is as good. I can get the cab for about ten bucks and think its a very good value at that price. IIRC, I paid $11 for the Syrah at Total Wine the other day.

 

[RegionRat]

as well as some Tancor Grand Cru.

The tannin I have been using is LD Carlson. How does it compare to the Tancor Grand Cru everyone always mentions on here?

Also, Total Wine is a great place. When we go to St Pete there is one right around the corner.

RR