The rewards and frustrations of home winemaking

Tag archive: wine kit

Barolo 8-month Tasting

It is really too early to be opening this wine, but I was dying to try it.  Definitely has that “kit nose”, that weird “soapy” scent that most red kits have (but do lose over time).  I used a Riedle balloon glass for this tasting, no decanting.  The nose is dominated by “kit scent”.  Very […]

Last Bottle of Bourgeron Rouge

Tonight we’re drinking our last bottle of 2007 “Del Mar Racetrack” Bourgeron Rouge.  We did a taste comparison with 2007 BV Vin Pays d’Oc Pinot Noir.  Our “Racetrack” had much more fruit character, much more depth of flavor.  The BV almost tasted like plastic when tasted head to head. All in all, we are very […]

Two Year Tasting of La Jolla Caves Wine

This wine has really taken its time to come together, but it is definitely improving now more and more.  I did decant, but tasted just after decanting.  Not a lot of solids thrown out or left in the bottle.  Kit taste and aroma is gone, with no foam at all. Velvety aromas of chocolate, brambles, […]

Pacific Sunset White Two Year Tasting

This wine is now approaching 2 years, it’s hard to believe it made it that long, it’s so good! After time the honey/flowery notes have come forward, although there is still a good spicy bite in the finish too.  Still a great wine, it will be hard to let this one go.  I hope this […]

Pinot Gris Two and a Half Year Tasting Note

There are only 2 bottles of this wine left, though it is surprising that it has lasted this long.  This wine has really developed nicely over the years. It now has very rounded, mellow nose of apricots and melon. Coconut notes develop on the tongue coupled with crisp flavors of lychee and apple. This wine […]

First wine — two and a half years later

We opened the 2007 “Overlook Heights” Cabernet-merlot tonight, the first wine I made.  Two and a half years later, this wine has come together really nicely.  Very smooth, no more foam!  Yummy aromas of dark fruit and cocoa, with juicy flavors of plum, black cherry, and blueberry with hints of spice and milk chocolate.  Unfortunately, […]

Comparing Chiantis

Since we are four tonight, I decided it was finally time to do a head-to-head comparison of 2008 Mosti Mondiale Chianti with the 2009 WE Chianti.  Overall, both tasted very similar;  very basic, clean, nice table wines.  We tasted alone and with a spinach salad with blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette.  Both wines […]

Hanoi Towers of Wine

Today was a game of wine shuffling.  My hubby commented I’m playing Towers of Hanoi with the wines.  Here’s what I have to do:  I have 2 carboys of the syrah, and Paul needs those carboys back, so I need to move them into 5-gallon better bottles.  The only 5-gallon better bottles I have are […]

Lots o’ Bottling

It’s finally time to bottle the barolo that has been bulk aging since March.  I wanted to avoid bottling any of the goop that has settled out at the bottom, so I racked off the clear wine into a bucket.  I noticed a white film at the top similar to what I saw a few […]

Yakima Synergy 3 Month Tasting

Nose of crisp apples with hint of vanilla. Very clear, pale yellow-green in color. Crisp flavors of green apple and peach with hint of bell pepper and vanilla. Wow, really came together VERY nicely, and sooner than I expected!