Thanks for your reply. I only got the Merlot kit because it is my fathers
favorite wine. I plan to start another batch of wine of a white variety and
want to get the best kit to start with and then make any additions that
people have found help the kit compete with store bought wines.

Mark


"Pinky" > wrote in message
...
> 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
> Remove "PSANTISPAM" from my address line to reply.
> All outgoing mail is scanned by Norton
> Anti Virus for your protection too!
> "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
> >
> >
>
>