Paklab wine kit ?

[bigshug1960]

For who's bought the raspberry merlot kit....it's now down to £19.15 from the orginal £23.41....bugger!!!

Bought one too at the £19.15 price, arrived today so checked Amazon website only to find it's now down to £17.32

[waggoner]

Bought one too at the £19.15 price, arrived today so checked Amazon website only to find it's now down to £17.32

OPPS...my finger just happened to hit the buy button again for another one of these....bad finger!!!!

[Ted.B]

Had to join the party myself at these prices, two kits on the way to me now.

[Delmonteman]

Cab Sav finished fermenting (took a fortnight). Used one sachet of oak and I have to say, first taster from the bottom of the FV is pretty good. Not watery as some critical reviews I have seen suggest. I think this will easily be worth the outlay... Next up is the merlot, and i ordered the raspberry merlot last night too!!!

[kampervan]

rasp merlot tastes ok straight from fermenter, is very fruity and easy drinking. look forward to this chilled in summer. now down to £15 so had to get another

[Big Dave]

Felt really left out

Rasp merlot and a cab sauv (for the good lady) on its way - less than £40 for th two kits

[bigshug1960]

I am now drinking the Cab Sav I bought, and though it is not a great wine it is drinkable. It is serving the exact purpose it was intended to do. To keep me away from my better wines till they age for at least several months.
Unfortunately I am no judge of wines, "jeezus, drinkable, like that one, I couldn't spend that much on a bottle of wine", pretty much sums me up but, if I were to try it would be: Immediately fruitier than any commercial wine I've tasted (I don't know yet if this will darken with age). Has almost enough body to stand up against 3 for tenner (I got the full 30 bottles plus a little wastage as I hadn't my FV's calibrated in any way. Oops just checked my notes and I added 2 bottles of Beaverdale Cab Sav to my last racking prior to bottling, as the head space with my new glass bottle was way bigger than the plastic one I have ). It could be way more oakier. Could that be the fruityness suppressing it, as it does come through slightly afterwards ? ( I might try not racking at 1.010 as per instructions and let it ferment to dry in one go ).
So, as I started this thread (as a beginner), my overall opinion is (after tasting the better part of a bottle of the stuff), I am happy with my purchase and as the price is now down to £15.66 inc. delivery it now works out at 53p bottle. I await delivery of another few kits and I will keep an eye out for the rest of the series to come down to a "must try" level, ie nearer £20 than £30 -)

[malcmackenzie]

Hi

Thinking of getting some of these red ones

Anyone tasted the Merlot yet? not sure which one to get?

[Cellar_Rat]

yikes, at £.53 per bottle that is cheaper than making it from grapes

[Delmonteman]

It could be way more oakier.

Did you use both oak sachets bigshug1960...? I only used one on the cab sav and it seemed ok but I'm not touching mine for a while yet... Can't believe that price!

[bigshug1960]

Did you use both oak sachets bigshug1960...? I only used one on the cab sav and it seemed ok but I'm not touching mine for a while yet... Can't believe that price!

I'm sure the correct kit I got only had 1 sachet of chips. I wiil check the new ones i've ordered tomorrow. It would be nice if there are 2 sachets of oak. I have added 70g of oak the first, "missing ingredients" kit I made up tonight.
I also made the kit up to 21 1/2 litres and intend to top up with the last Paklab kit, and at >£16 perhaps keep a cycle going -)

[bigshug1960]

Checked contents of my new kits and they all contain 2 sachets of oak chips. I've also ordered another 3 with a friend but I need to work out how to keep them hidden from my wife for a couple of months.

Alan

[woody1962]

Hi there Bigshug - thanks for this, I had no awareness of these kits at all and I've just ordered one - I'm seriously looking forwards to it - i've been making Caraf 21 which is ok but pretty 'thin' and now costs more than £15.66 I think.

[waggoner]

How can they bring these kits down to such a cheap price??? They must be making zero profit on them....not that i'm moaning!! just might get myself another..lol.

[Delmonteman]

And as soon as the positive reviews go on Amazon, the price goes up...!