Mark,

I buy the Selection Limited edition reds from BK every year, which are 16
litre kits to make 23 litres (5 gals imp or 6 gals US) these kits in UK used
to be about £50 each but the price has now risen to £57 each. Last year I
bought my first Selection Estate series red -- a Lodi Zinfandel Old Vines
red kit at £75 but I only started it in September and it is still sitting
undisturbed, bulk aging so I can't comment.
In UK there is no other kit as yet available that is of the same quality (or
price range).
I make much less wine than I used to and make more kit wines -- space in my
small flat ( apartment) being the limiting factor. I have been making the
Selection series reds for a fair few years now since they first became
available in UK.

To be honest I have become increasingly critical of kit reds as time has
gone on. I am a type 2 diabetic ( dietary control only) and my consumption
of wine has been savagely curtailed and perhaps that is why I am more
appreciative of the wine when I have my permitted occasional bottle.

My white wine kits ( at about 1/2 the cost of the Selection red kits)
produce far superior wines which are recognisable as from within their
varietal grape type. In particular my Muscadet and Sauvignon Blanc are very
typical!

The reds -- well as I said, I only have one bottle per week but I am
increasingly dissatisfied with the end results of a year bulk aging before
bottling. My criticism is, as ever, that "cooked " taste and, increasingly,
a lack of character, bland, and lack of tannin. The wines are full of fruit
flavour but just not up the comparison with an inexpensive red bought from
a good supermarket wine section.
I have just sampled my first bottle of limited edition Syrah/Mouvedre made
in Spring last year. The blurb on BK's back label states --"..... this
elegant red wine is rich and complex, showing strong tannins and earthy
character ....."
Well no it isn't! Fruity but totally lacking in "strong tannins" and where
is that "earthy character". It was like drinking a tepid fruit soup that
needed the addition of chilli gin to bring out its flavours. I certainly
would not inflict it on any guest of mine. I have checked my records and
find that I may not have added extra tannin at the initial fermentation
stage. I started doing that with my Selection kits a couple of years ago to
try and improve the mouth of my wines and I perceive some benefit -- but it
does tend to be a hit and miss affair.
My criticism of kit reds is not confined to BK Selection , it is just the
Selection kits are ( IMHO) the best available in UK. I think my best result
is BK Selection Rioja. One I did about 4 years ago is finished now but
after the second year in bottle was probably the best I have tasted but
still lacked that "finish"

Sorry this has been so long a response. Perhaps, when a method of colour
extraction of red grapes is "invented" that does not involve "boiling" the
fruit, the reds will improve.

I just wish I could get red wine grapes and/or fresh red grape juice in UK!

Hope it helps.


--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire, England
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"Mark Garwatoski" > wrote in message
. com...
> Who makes the best kits, money not being a concern? I live in NC and fresh
> grape juice just isn't an easy option. They do grow grapes here but they
are
> mostly either Muscadine or Scuppernong. More searching might lead to some
> option but right now kits are a good start.
> I started with a BK Select French Merlot. What others are considered the
> best of the kits?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
>