California Connosseur Merlot

[tonyhibbett]

I've tried Youngs Brewbuddy Merlot several times, which is good, but not exactly merlot. This may be due to the fact that there is virtually no grape juice in it, consisting almost entirely of apple and elderflower concentrate, with a small flavouring pack with grape concentrate, mixed with cherry and 'flavouring', plus lots of sugar to be added, 4 kg in fact.
So I thought I'd go upmarket with the California Connosseur version, which is significantly more expensive at £42, (£1.25 per bottle), slightly offset by including invert sugar in the grape concentrate, while the pack itself can be re-used to store 7.2 litres of the wine. Yes a large heavy pack, incorporating a single push in slot to help you carry it!
As it's a 28 day kit, it'll take at least that long to come up with the results

 

[Wez]

I have had some great results with the 1 gallon version of the California Connosseur kit :thumb:

 

[tonyhibbett]

Update:
The wine is being filtered now and the results are very good, even at this stage and will better after a month. It only took 14 days, half the time stipulated. Following the recommendations not to top up after racking and to filter, you end up with somewhat less wine and for the extra cost of the filter pad.
It's superior to the Youngs Merlot, which is unsurprising as that is mostly apple and elderberry, but my next red will be Youngs Cabernet Sauvignon, which is mostly grape, and quicker and cheaper than Californian Connosseur, and does not require filtering

 

[tonyhibbett]

Postscript:
It took several hours and 2 pads to filter it. Once it had settled down, it's true character emerged. Deep red, faint aroma, very smooth, hint of blackcurrant, but a very short finish and as much character and depth as one of those West Coast, made for TV films with irritating, two dimensional wooden second rate acting, a banal, predictable plot and outcome, infantile dialogue, elevator style muzak soundtrack and bog standard camerawork..
Come back, Youngs Merlot-flavoured apple and elderberry wine. All is forgiven. I'd much prefer you to move in next door and marry my daughter than this smooth shaved, smooth talking, clean cut, smart-suited charlatan any day!

 

[tonyhibbett]

Actually, that's a bit unfair, given its youth and having to compete with roast lamb, home grown potatoes and parsnips plus wine enriched gravy and mint sauce. Even Chateauneuf du Papes would struggle to hold its own with that much competition on the taste buds!

 

[Green Pesto]

Bit unfair on the Youngs Merlot & not all apple as you suggest either .... although the Cab Sav is admittedly better!

Not sure why you are filtering as this is unneccessary with the Youngs Cellar7 kits which only take 7 days from start to finish.

I've done all except the Pinot Noir so far. The Ladies seem to really like the Rose' as well as the Cab Sav!

At £30 for x26 75cl bottles, its a good range & easy on the pocket.

 

[abeyptfc]

ive recently bought the 6 bottle california con - pinot grigio and cab sauvignon, is the filtering part necessary? ive never done a wine kit before and by the sounds of the first post the filtering part is a pain in the ****!i don't drink wine myself, its for my ma, she can cough up the money if its *****!

 

[Moley]

is the filtering part necessary?

No, filtering should never be necessary, and certainly not with a red wine, although as an optional extra stage it can make a big difference to a white which you thought was already perfectly clear. Filtration is not a substitute for patience, and as it hasn't even been a month from the original post I fail to see how Tony is in any position to deliver a verdict yet.

I don't make kit wines and have only ever tried a couple of single gallon Beaverdales, but as I see it, the budget "7-day" kits are fine for the undiscerning wino, the mid-range kits such as Beaverdale and CalCon can be pretty good if given a few months to mature and the top-end kits are meant to be superb when made properly.

 

[abeyptfc]

thanks for the reply moley :thumb:

 

[tonyhibbett]

Some confusion here. I filtered the Californian Connosseur Merlot (not the Youngs Merlot, and the Winebuddy kit, not the Cellar 7) because it recommended it but only needed it because the fining agent was much less effective than the Youngs stuff.
The Youngs Merlot is not all apple: there's elderberry in it an a tiny amount of cherry and grape juice. concentrate.
Filtration is not always required, but sometimes most definitly is, and commercially pretty much standard practice.
Youngs Winebuddy Merlot is good after a month, but the Californian Connosseur version is much better even after a week.

 

[abeyptfc]

Some confusion here. I filtered the Californian Connosseur Merlot (not the Youngs Merlot, and the Winebuddy kit, not the Cellar 7) because it recommended it but only needed it because the fining agent was much less effective than the Youngs stuff.
The Youngs Merlot is not all apple: there's elderberry in it an a tiny amount of cherry and grape juice. concentrate.
Filtration is not always required, but sometimes most definitly is, and commercially pretty much standard practice.
Youngs Winebuddy Merlot is good after a month, but the Californian Connosseur version is much better even after a week.

thanks for the reply, I started both the pinto grigio and cab suav kits last night, pitched the yeast about 10pm, checked on it this morning about 7am before work and it was going like a train. the instructions advise to keep it between 20-25 degrees, ive got both 5 litre jugs in a box with a few fleeces, also got a brew belt in the box during the day which is keeping both at around 24 degrees so am on way from misery to happiness today, aha aha aha aha