Kit or Frozen

[rhoffart]

Kit or Frozen Juice … well in a week or so I’m or so I going to order two MM master collection (white) kits. Well, again I’m second guessing my decision. That’s 3 – 4 bills. Am I doing the right thing? Am I ready for frozen juice? Is there that big of a difference between a 23L kit and frozen juice? Also, I will be ordering a 23L barrel to oak them a little.

I would love some feedback.

 

[ibglowin]

My experience has shown that white wines have been closer to commercial quality than the reds and that is because there is not all that much difference between a white kit wine and a white made from fresh grapes. Crush, de-stem, press, ferment. Insert process, package as well for a kit wine.

Reds on the other hand, BIG difference. Even with the best juice you can't get the same level of tannins that you can get from 100lbs of fresh grapes as from a 2lb grape pack of skins. For that reason I have found all my reds lacking in tannin and needing a pretty good hit of post fermentation finishing tannin on most every one of them.

I wouldn't think twice about springing for a ultra premium white but the ultra premium reds while good, will never rival a commercial IMHO. YMMV as they say and offer available only to highly qualified buyers, limited to stock on hand.........

 

[rhoffart]

I wouldn't think twice about springing for a ultra premium white but the ultra premium reds while good, will never rival a commercial IMHO. YMMV as they say and offer available only to highly qualified buyers only, limited to stock on hand.........

Thanks Mike, after reading your posts, I respect your opinion and think I’ll pull the trigger on the two white kits. But as you recommend I think my next red will be frozen pails. This will give me some time to research some basic tools and knowledge I need for frozen reds.

 

[robie]

Yep, Mike is right.

For the frozen pails of grapes, some do not come with anything but the grapes, so you will need to buy your own chemicals.

Also, once thawed, they have to be processed just like any other fresh grapes, so you will need to learn a little more than what you need for red kits. Will you need to pre-apply kmeta, is pectin enzyme necessary, is masceration required, what about an MLF?

If you do go with frozen reds, you will end up with a much bigger wine.

 

[Smartdog]

Having done a red (syrah) from kit and in the middle of a red (Zin) from frozen grapes, I plan to stick to frozen or fresh grapes for my reds from now on. More work, but more satisfying.

I have only done a white from a kit, but do plan to do a white this fall (OMG next month or two ) from fresh juice.

 

[Wade E]

I too agree but keep in mind that you can tweak the tannin levels with high quality tannins such as Scott's Labs products which will get you closer. I myself dont like many at all of the juice buckets as they stand alone and would go fro frozen grape buckets like especially if you can find the Brehm buckets. They are most likely the best buckets you can get!!!