In my other post I suggested that Finer Wines kits are a step above wineexpert kits.
Two years ago, I tried to duplicate WE bourbon barrel cab zin blend they had about 7 years ago. The original kit was really good and aged extremely well. I have two bottles left and those will be gone on my wife's BD. My attempt to duplicate it was a failure. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good wine, but not in the same class.
I got the FW zin and cab kits, and blended them in primary. Went through all the accepted steps of carefully pitching the yeast, using nutrients while pitching the yeast, again when must started fermenting, and finally at 1/3 sugar depletion. Here's where I really stepped away from even WE instructions. He wanted 2oz of oak cubes (per batch) in secondary. I put into each carboy, 4oz of oak cubes, but I had put them in a mason jar filled with bourbon when I started primary. So they had two weeks to soak up the bourbon, and they did. Left them in for two weeks until when I racked the wine. At that point it tasted good, heavier bourbon taste, but the oak was the right amount. About six weeks later I racked again into glass carboy for it to bulk age over the winter while we are snow birding. This wine will by far be the best wine I have ever tasted... at 10 weeks, it's one of the best I've ever had. Going to be hard letting this age. I expect to do another batch of this next year, I want to build up inventory of this awesome wine.
Two years ago, I tried to duplicate WE bourbon barrel cab zin blend they had about 7 years ago. The original kit was really good and aged extremely well. I have two bottles left and those will be gone on my wife's BD. My attempt to duplicate it was a failure. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good wine, but not in the same class.
I got the FW zin and cab kits, and blended them in primary. Went through all the accepted steps of carefully pitching the yeast, using nutrients while pitching the yeast, again when must started fermenting, and finally at 1/3 sugar depletion. Here's where I really stepped away from even WE instructions. He wanted 2oz of oak cubes (per batch) in secondary. I put into each carboy, 4oz of oak cubes, but I had put them in a mason jar filled with bourbon when I started primary. So they had two weeks to soak up the bourbon, and they did. Left them in for two weeks until when I racked the wine. At that point it tasted good, heavier bourbon taste, but the oak was the right amount. About six weeks later I racked again into glass carboy for it to bulk age over the winter while we are snow birding. This wine will by far be the best wine I have ever tasted... at 10 weeks, it's one of the best I've ever had. Going to be hard letting this age. I expect to do another batch of this next year, I want to build up inventory of this awesome wine.
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