Other Red blend recommendation

[TemperanceOwl]

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a really smooth red blend? A couple of commercial wines I like are 19 Crimes (Australian blend) and The Prisoner (Napa valley blend). The first is a blend of shiraz, pinot noir, grenache and cabernet sauvignon. The second is zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Charbono.

Do you all have any suggestions?

 

[Amanda660]

Might be worth a taste:
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Meritage
Famiglia Meschini Premium Malbec Syrah
Tudal Family Winery Tractor Shed Red

 

[Julie]

I blended a Chambourcin and a Vignoles together, love it!

 

[TemperanceOwl]

Thanks, Amanda and Julie.
I guess I wasn't very clear with my question... I meant to ask for a kit recommendation for a red blend. I've seen WE kits in the past such as a red trio, but I could never find the varietals listed, and I think one of their current LE kits is a Spanish trio. But I'd like to try a California or Australian red blend kit that's high end with grape skins, that would closely mimic one of those commercial blends.

 

[NorCal]

Hard to miss with the classic French blends: Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec or Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre. Don't know a corresponding kit, but these grape varieties go well together.

 

[sour_grapes]

Hard to miss with the classic French blends: Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec or Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre. Don't know a corresponding kit, but these grape varieties go well together.

Here is my thread on GSM blends:

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50794

 

[TemperanceOwl]

Here is my thread on GSM blends:

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50794

Thanks for sharing your thread. What did you end up doing?

I am beginning to wonder whether these commercial wines I mentioned were blended after the individual varietals were fermented, or if the grapes were blended and then fermented together - like we'd have in a kit.

Does anyone know?

 

[Boatboy24]

Thanks for sharing your thread. What did you end up doing?

I am beginning to wonder whether these commercial wines I mentioned were blended after the individual varietals were fermented, or if the grapes were blended and then fermented together - like we'd have in a kit.

Does anyone know?

You can bet they were blended after fermentation. The winemaker will alter the blend slightly each year to bring out the best mix.

 

[cpfan]

You can bet they were blended after fermentation. The winemaker will alter the blend slightly each year to bring out the best mix.

Some blends are co-fermentation (Syrah-Viognier for example) but most are post-fermentation. One reason for post-fermentation is that grapes mature at different times and the wineries don't wish to store one variety until the second is ready.

Steve

 

[TemperanceOwl]

Some blends are co-fermentation (Syrah-Viognier for example) but most are post-fermentation. One reason for post-fermentation is that grapes mature at different times and the wineries don't wish to store one variety until the second is ready.

Steve

That makes a lot of sense!

Maybe I should buy 3 or 4 one gallon kits and try post-fermentation blending. You never know...it might turn out well.

 

[sour_grapes]

Thanks for sharing your thread. What did you end up doing?

I never got around to doing a GSM....

(hides face in shame)

 

[cpfan]

Maybe I should buy 3 or 4 one gallon kits and try post-fermentation blending. You never know...it might turn out well.

That's something that I've thought about trying, but 1 gallon kits have been rare in Canada. I should do some looking. I expect the varieties to be somewhat limited though.

Spagnols has a new 3 US gallon line called Mivino (https://www.rjscraftwinemaking.com/mivino/). They seem to be recommending co-fermentation using two of these kits. I wouldn't mind doing the Shiraz and Merlot separately, and then try some different M-S blends.

Steve

 

[TemperanceOwl]

That's something that I've thought about trying, but 1 gallon kits have been rare in Canada. I should do some looking. I expect the varieties to be somewhat limited though.

Spagnols has a new 3 US gallon line called Mivino (https://www.rjscraftwinemaking.com/mivino/). They seem to be recommending co-fermentation using two of these kits. I wouldn't mind doing the Shiraz and Merlot separately, and then try some different M-S blends.

Steve

I'll have to look into this! One gallon batches seem like so much work for little output, but i don't want 6 gallons of 5 different wines just to try blending.

I wonder how they decide how to blend when all the wines are still young? How would they know? I assume they blend post fermentation, but before much aging?

 

[TemperanceOwl]

I ran across the CellarCraft Showcase Mystic Red this morning, and in looking for info on the 4 varietals used, found this older thread:

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47414

This might be exactly what I was looking for! I think I'll order it and give it a try. Has anyone else done this one? Looks like Lori did the Eclipse competitor and liked it.

The four used are Cab, Merlot, Syrah, and Zin.

 

[heatherd]

I ran across the CellarCraft Showcase Mystic Red this morning, and in looking for info on the 4 varietals used, found this older thread:

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47414

This might be exactly what I was looking for! I think I'll order it and give it a try. Has anyone else done this one? Looks like Lori did the Eclipse competitor and liked it.

The four used are Cab, Merlot, Syrah, and Zin.

Haven't tried the Mystic Red.

I made the Grenache Syrah Mourvedre kit but haven't tasted since aging.

Another blend that most of us have tasted and recommend highly is a Super Tuscan.

Enigma is another blend, but I haven't made or tasted so I can't comment on how it tastes.

 

[kevinlfifer]

RJS Super Tuscan is my vote.

I haven't made a kit for 3 yrs now, but that was a favorite. If you want to wait for the fall juices I blended a Malvasia Nero with Sangiovese and it was very good. For the Chilean juices I blended a Carmanere with a cab sav, it was OK. Not as good as the Italian blend.

 

[TemperanceOwl]

RJS Super Tuscan is my vote.

I haven't made a kit for 3 yrs now, but that was a favorite. If you want to wait for the fall juices I blended a Malvasia Nero with Sangiovese and it was very good. For the Chilean juices I blended a Carmanere with a cab sav, it was OK. Not as good as the Italian blend.

I've seen people mention that Super Tuscan before but haven't made it yet. I made a Sangiovese and a Nebbiolo last spring, and decided I should wait to see if I even like Tuscan wines before making the ST to go with my other 60 bottles!

 

[TemperanceOwl]

I ordered the Mystic Red today. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

[roger80465]

I ordered the Mystic Red today. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

If memory serves, Mystic is made in the style of Apothic Red which is a bit off dry.

 

[sour_grapes]

If memory serves, Mystic is made in the style of Apothic Red which is a bit off dry.

True, but, as winemakers, we can control the final residual sugar!