30 bottle Barolo - Selection or Beaverdale?

[andycole]

Hiya.
I'm new here, although I've been making wine for a while, around 15-20 years, I reckon. After a long break I've decided to make some more as we're drinking more wine nowadays and it's hard to find a decent bottle for under a fiver at the supermarket.
The last batches I made were the 30 bottle Selection barolo kits. That was about 7 years ago. I made 2 sets about a year apart and both were superb. So that is what I was thinking of doing again. But the price is pretty high, so I have looked at what appears to be the next cheapest alternative, the Beaverdale kit.

So, I was just wondering if anyone here has tried either or both, and what you think of them? Is the Beaverdale as good as the Selection?
I read a kit review site somewhere where the guy slated the Selection kit, although admitted making a mistake in the process :hmm: and he also said the Beaverdale kit was the best red he's ever tasted, so I don't know what to make of that, as both my Selection kits have been the best reds I've ever tasted, but a £30 saving is not to be sniffed at, eh?

Any comments, or indeed suggestions of possible alternatives, invited.

Cheers :
Andy

 

[craftyjohn]

I brew a lot of wine kits and the best value for money are KenRidge classic 30 bottle kits, depending where you buy them they cost between £43.00 and £46.00. you get 10 litres of concentrate, with beaverdale you only get 7.5 litres which in my opinion makes a thinner less robust wine.

Kenridge do a barolo, I haven't tried it myself but I know a few people who have and they swear by it, I do the Cabernet Shiraz which is very nice indeed.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

My other half's recently got into winemaking, and made a 1 gallon Beaverdale Barolo which we were sampling just the other weekend. It was still quite young when we were drinking it (if you wanted to know the vintage I'd have to look at my watch, never mind the calendar) but it was a fine drop. Worth giving it a go, I reckon - I've generally been quite impressed with Beaverdale stuff

 

[Nunfa1]

I only do Selection or Kenridge kits. My Dad does Beaverdale kits. IMO you get what you pay for. The more grape juice you get the more body you'll have in the finished wine. I'm happy to do Beaverdale whites but reds will always be Selection or Kenridge.

 

[wulliemc]

if you wanted to know the vintage I'd have to look at my watch, never mind the calendar

glad to know there are at least two of us

 

[andycole]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll give the Kenridge a go.

Andy

 

[andycole]

Hi all

This is rather an old thread but I thought it best to add to it rather than start a new one.
I wanted to add some info but also to ask a question.
I thought I'd add my review of the kenridge kit:-
For the price it was very good, it was about a third less than the selection kit. For the first 6-9 months it was almost on a par with the selection and then after that the taste became rather variable. It's now over a year since the kit was ready to drink and I still have about 5 bottles left. Lately it seems that the first glass out of each bottle tastes a little rough but the rest are just great. I don't usually drink a whole bottle in one go usually my wife and I will share it over a couple of days. I am guessing that allowing air to get to the wine has something to do with the improvement, if anyone has any theories then I'd like to hear them.

But I have decided to go for the selection kit this time around as in my previous experience it has been 100% in every glass, certainly once left for 3months or so. It doesn't last much longer than a year because I drink it!

I have been shopping around online and the best price I have seen is £68.95 which sounds pretty reasonable but does anyone know of any sites offering a better price for the selection kit?

Cheers
Andy.

 

[tonyhibbett]

I have found the Kenridge classic is great young but does not age well, whereas their cheaper california classic is the reverse. The Reserve du Chateau barolo was good, now at £43,including corks, labels anf foils (Amazon, free delivery).