Luna Rosa or Cabernet Sauvignon

[BrewinNColorado]

I am interested in trying a wine kit and want some advice.

I really like bold and full bodies reds, so I am looking at make a Luna Rosa or Cabernet Sauvignon.

In your opinion, which is fuller and has more body? From all that I have seen it is the Luna Rosa, but wanted to get other opinions.

Also, what yeast would you use for either of these?

Thanks!
Michael

 

[Medsen Fey]

I've not tried either (WinExpert kits, right?). However, if you want the biggest boldest red, check out the Amarone (from any of the kit producers). The WinExpert limited edition Petit Verdot is also supposed to be quite hefty, and they've brought it back this year (mine just came in the mail - Yippee!).

Typically I just use the yeast that comes with the kit - in most cases that is EC-1118.

 

[BrewinNColorado]

Thanks Medsen!

Typically I just use the yeast that comes with the kit - in most cases that is EC-1118.

I have used 1118 before and it is a really easy yeast to work with, but how does it handle the color? From what little I know, some yeasts are better with red wines then others because some tend to lose some of the deep red components.

Thanks!
Michael

 

[Medsen Fey]

The kits are designed to work okay with EC-1118. The color will be okay. If you want to substitute other yeast you can, but you may have to baby it a little more, and might wind up needing some additional nutrients. Personally, I've tried it using other yeast, but frankly they turn out just as well using the yeast in the kit (at least as far as my limited palate can determine).

Which Cab were you looking at (they make several)?. The Selection estate Sonoma Cab sounds really tempting. I will say that my winemaking has concentrated on the Italians (Amarone, Valpolicella Ripasso, and Super Tuscans) and I like them a lot. I'm pretty sure I'd really like the Luna Rossa and the more I read about it, the more I want to try it.

Darn! Now I want one. ;D

Medsen

 

[BrewinNColorado]

Which Cab were you looking at (they make several)?Medsen

I am looking at the Sonoma Valley under the Estate Series.

Thanks for the input on the yeast, did not know that it was such a subtle difference in collor.


Thanks!
Michael

 

[Medsen Fey]

When you are working with fresh fruit, the yeast can have a bigger impact on color. With the kits, they use their special processes to extract the color, and with either of those kits, the color should be so rich that the choice of yeast won't make much difference in the final color of the wine.

 

[BrewinNColorado]

When you are working with fresh fruit, the yeast can have a bigger impact on color. With the kits, they use their special processes to extract the color, and with either of those kits, the color should be so rich that the choice of yeast won't make much difference in the final color of the wine.

that makes sense since the juice is concentrated. I like 1118 as it is really simple to use.

Thanks for the info, it is always very appreciated!

Thanks!
Michael

 

[PitBull]

BrewinNColorado,

I know I’m jumping in late to this conversation. (Sorry about that.) I also like the bold, full-bodied reds and have made about half a dozen kits from winexpert.

According to the winexpert.com sight for the Selection Original Series:
Luna Rossa - Sweetness: DRY | Body: FULL | Oak Intensity: HEAVY
Cabernet Sauvignon - Sweetness: DRY | Body: MEDIUM-FULL | Oak Intensity: MEDIUM

Selection International Series:
Italian Amarone - Sweetness: OFF-DRY | Body: MEDIUM-FULL | Oak Intensity: MEDIUM (I just ordered this one from the local brewshop a few days ago.)
Italian Montepulciano - Sweetness: DRY | Body: FULL | Oak Intensity: MEDIUM

I have made the Montepulciano and it is very good. It compares favorably with the Monte that is special ordered by one of the better Italian restaurants here in the Pittsburgh area.

If you get your kits from a local brewshop, see if they can give you a Winexpert catalog (a small booklet). It’s extremely well organized, very informative, gives the awards that each wine has won for the last three years, and is easier and quicker to use than their web site.

 

[Medsen Fey]

I just started the WE Limited edition Petit Verdot, and oh my it looks promising!

 

[PitBull]

I just started the WE Limited edition Petit Verdot, and oh my it looks promising!

The description of the WE Petit Verdot looks delicious. Let us know how it turns out. Since its limited edition, it may not be back for several years… bummer.

For what it’s worth, our local brewshop owners, who make many kits per year, highly recommends the Selection Estate Napa Valley Stag’s Leap District Merlot (Sweetness: DRY | Body: MEDIUM-FULL | Oak Intensity: HEAVY | Silver Award). They said you’ll never go back to the Value Series Merlot (Sweetness: DRY | Body: MEDIUM-FULL | Oak Intensity: LIGHT | Silver Award) again.

For those that like white wines, I’m about to bottle the Mezza Luna White (Sweetness: OFF-DRY | Body: MEDIUM | Oak Intensity: MEDIUM | Gold Award). We liked it so much that it’s the only kit that we made twice. We also ordered a Mezza Luna Red and hope it’s just as good as the White. The Mezza Luna Red/White are kind of like the little siblings of the Luna Rossa/Bianca. The Mezza Luna Red should tide us over until the Italian Amarone is ready.

 

[Medsen Fey]

The Mezza Luna Red should tide us over until the Italian Amarone is ready.

Yeah, the Amarone is big and takes a long time to integrate (mine is 18 months and still has a long way to go). According to Tim Vandergrift the WinExpert guru it needs to age 4 years in order to shine. We are used to long aging around here, but even for us mazers, that's a challenge.