Cellar Craft Red Mountain Cabernet

[Boatboy24]

I started this kit just before Christmas, so it's just over 5 months old and I was hoping to bottle it in a few weeks. I followed the directions through clearing, then it sat in the Vadai for 8 weeks and got a dose of Tancor Grand Cru. I took a taste last night and it is definitely living up to the hype so far. I can't wait to see what it's like at 12 and 18 months.

If you're looking for a good Cab kit to try, this one should be at or near the top of your list.

Jim

 

[LeChat]

I also have one of those in a carboy aging away.

Did you use all the provided oak + additional oak imparted by the barrel? I have a newish barrel and I am a bit loath to put that kit in it at this time because I don't want to overoak it.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Boatboy24]

If I recall correctly, this kit had chips or dust for the primary and cubes for the clearing/aging stage. I skipped the cubes. It was only the second wine to go through my barrel and after 8 weeks, it had some pretty good oak on it. But that fell back quickly. I'd definitely run it through the barrel, but taste as you go so as not to over oak it.

 

[NoSnob]

My Red Mountain Cab was begun June 2012 and last night's sample indicated that it is excellent at nearly 12 months. Clearly the best cab I have made. It is dry, well-balanced, and smooth from start to finish. It is hard to imagine that it will continue to improve.

Unlike many of my other kits, I have been especially careful NOT to sample this one much in its first year. I keep my wines at 58F. And it has definitely been worth the wait. I plan to order another ASAP.

Incidentally, Red Mountain Washington is one of the smallest American AVAs at 4,000 acres. Turns out though it is neither a mountain nor red!

NS

 

[eblasmn9]

I just started my second Red Mountain Cab kit today. It did come with 30 grams of Heavy toast French chips and 30 grams of medium toast french chips/dust. By the time I run this through my barrel, it will be almost neutral so I will probably use the 100 grams of Medium toast Hungarian cubes that also came with the kit.
My first RMC is 16 months old and I have not sampled it yet. I think I will try a split tonight to celebrate the starting of the new kit.

 

[wood1954]

I bought a kit yesterday. can't wait to start it. Hopefully mine will turn out as good as everyone else's. I'm not going to add the dust tho, i just can't justify adding sawdust to my wine, plus it's pain to deal with.

 

[Boatboy24]

Got this into bottles yesterday and had about 2/3 of a bottle left, which I enjoyed last night. It is the best wine I've made. I'm really pleased with this one.

 

[SouthernChemist]

I tried a split of my Red Mountain Cab last week. It's about 13 months old and already pretty tasty.

 

[ibglowin]

I have a full batch that is now 2 years old. Lots of barrel time, extra tannin, as well as booster rouge. This will last 5 years minimum. One of the best wines I have made to date.

 

[wood1954]

I'm happy to say my kit didn't come with oak dust; chips and cubes instead. It just finished fermenting and already has great chewyness and flavor. This could the best wine i've made. I'll be looking forward to comparing this to the WE Lodi Ranch Cabernet in a year or so. what a great hobby!

 

[NoSnob]

Today I took my second batch of Red Mountain Cab out of primary after 10 days. SG is 0.960. My room and must temperatures ran about 76F, a little higher than its recommended range. Taste is incredible. This is the only wine I have ever tasted out of primary that tastes like it's already aged. No harshness, no green taste. I believe it will be even better than the first one I discussed above.

NS

 

[ibglowin]

Definitely one of the best out there!

 

[Simpsini]

When I saw this thread I knew I had to respond. My RM Cab is 16 months old & I only have 16 bottles left. It is definitely the best Cab I've made. I ordered the Eclipse Lodi Cab last week and will start it next week. The plan is to bulk age the Lodi for 8 months & see how it compares to the RM Cab.. I just hope I can keep some of the RM Cab around to compare them. On 2nd thought I'll probably order some more RM Cab. Never like to let the carboys stay empty. Have a good weekend everybody

 

[FTC Wines]

All so good to hear, just checked my RM Cab & it's 6 mo. Old already. I'll leave it in the carbon another 6mo before bottling. It's due for a rack & taste, can't wait! Roy

 

[Boatboy24]

I opened a split on Friday, and its coming along very nicely. 7 months old now, and I plan to open a split every 1-2 months.

 

[Geronimo]

I have 2 of these; one is going on 2 years and it's excellent! The other is just going on 1 year old and it's definitely too young. The second batch got some Tan Cor Grand Cru but based on the first, I don't think it needed any tweeking. I've made 2 of the WE Lodi Ranch Cabs and the CC Showcase kit blows them away.

This one is definitely on my permanent list!