Cantina 5-day Montepulciano

[krakowmike]

I added some elderberry juice and red grape concentrate and it is drinkable. Well balanced, slightly sweet and forest fruits coming through. I'm not sure how much the elderberries changed the profile and have never tried a commercial monte to compare to. It is a little bit of a false economy because for the cost of all the ingredients, I could have gotten a Beaverdale. Nonetheless I am happy with the results.

I reserved 6 bottles and added a tablespoon of chocolate powder. It's aging now, all is left is filtering and tasting. I think a month or so should be enough. Because this kit cost 30ish, I wasn't afraid to experiment with it.

[Former Canuk]

Cheers for the feedback. I can only guess I made a mess of it because when I say horrid, it truely is. Some kind of smell in it I can not describe. If anything it would point to a sulfur smell, somewhat (somehow). It's like a mix of a bad smell/taste. But....onward Christian Soldiers!!!

[lockwood1956]

I'm thinking of using store bought frozen fruit, the kind they sell to make smoothies or whatever you'd use that for, I'd think that would turn out ok.

Have you made the wine No1 from the new winemakers section yet?

if not try it, its fab, ready in about 38 days, and drinkable immediately

you wont be dissapointed.

[Duffbeer]

Actualy they are a reasonable kit for the money, but like all 5-7 day kits they are quaffing wines, made quickly to be drunk quickly.

Imade this kit a couple of years ago and used it at the wine circle wine whist, the main reason it stood out against the commercials was it's lack of tannin (hence the early drinking factor).

By no means would I suggest it's horrid, however it is far from the quality expected from a Beaverdale or higher quality kit.

On another thought was the kit made up to 23ltrs ? Many people make this mistake unaware that they are actualy 21ltr kits and that will make a big difference to the end result.

[koomber]

It was rough when it finished, and it is still rough now, about a year later. There is a strange aftertaste there, which I can't put my finger on. Luckily my wife quite likes it, so I'm encouraging her a) to drink it, and b) to give as much away as possible

And they says chivalry is dead.

[goldseal]

I used a Cantina Monte kit for one of my second runs on grape skins last year (i.e. mix the concentrate up, then chuck in some just-fermented grape skins).

It was rough when it finished, and it is still rough now, about a year later. There is a strange aftertaste there, which I can't put my finger on. Luckily my wife quite likes it, so I'm encouraging her a) to drink it, and b) to give as much away as possible

[Former Canuk]

Cheers Bob, as you say, you get what you pay for and though I was after instant success, as in instant "who'd like a glass of wine" I can see now that time + quality = "sure I'd love one". I have a Belvino kit just done and that taste good for an initial raw taste test. Considering the fruit content in that kit I'm thinking of using store bought frozen fruit, the kind they sell to make smoothies or whatever you'd use that for, I'd think that would turn out ok.

[lockwood1956]

These kits make ok wine, but not brilliant, however they are worth what they cost....give it a month and try it again, it should improve some in that time.

regards
~Bob

[Former Canuk]

This is the first wine kit I have made. The result was a horrid tasting wine. Has anyone else been satisfied with this type of red wine from Cantina?. I've bottled some of it with hopes it may improve but for my liking (and I'm pretty easy going as to what is drinkable) this is non-drinkable after a week.
Possible I mucked something up but I was religious about sterilizing and keeping the temperature at 22 degrees.