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Cellar Craft red wine kits
Cellar Craft was the first kit supplier that started using grape skins in their red wines, and it revolutionized the industry. It makes these wine full-bodied with lots of flavour; in what is known as New World Fruit Bomb wines.
These kits, for the most part, should be aged for at least a year to obtain the full value of the wine. Our customers are telling us that these wines are as good as, or even better than commercial wines that they have paid $20 or more for.
Even people that for years have shunned kit wines are realizing that these are quality wines that are saving them a lot of money.
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| There is a $45.00 fee for making these wines in our store. |
Amarone
Amarone has to be one of the most full-bodied red wines around. Think of Port or Late Harvest wines, but without the sweetness. Like it's little brother Valpolicella, the wine has a foundation of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes from the Veneto region of Italy. The difference with this wines, compared to other Show Case reds, is that there is more grape skins and juice. The result is more flavour, colour, aroma and body. The mouth feel on this wine is unbelievable. While drinking this wine, it is recommended you use not only a waist belt, but also a shoulder harness to keep you in the chair. We are talking 15 1/2 to 16% alcohol.
The resulting wine is unbievably full-bodied, deep garnet colour, and richly dry. Notes of plum, sour cherry, rapberry and vanilla gradulally marry over aging time with anise, bitter chocolate, coffe, tobacco, leather, and fig tones. The finish is long and enjoyable. Wait at least a year to fully enjoy this great wine.$163.99
Barberra
Piedmont, Italy
For centuries Barberra has been the most popular grape grown in that area of Italy. Using modern wine making techniques, this wine has undergone a remarkable transformation, making it a top ranked wine, that compares favourably with Nebbiolo (Barolo), but does not need the lenghty aging process. Wines from the region can retail for up to $100 a bottle.
Deep ruby, medium-bodied and fruity in its youth, it ages to impressive depth and elegance. The oak and tannins mellow to a soft and well-rounded impression that lifts the fruit to a most attractive level. $157.99
Cabernet Sauvingon
Sunset Ridge Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington
Red Mountain officially received American Viticulture Area status in 2001, making it the smallest recognized area in the US for unique soil and climate conditions, creating a taste profile that is truly distinct to the region, but of the high qualaity of Napa Valley grapes. The vineyards have high calcium carbonate content in the soil. This imparts a distinctive chalkiness, which commbines with the powerful dark fruit qualities of the grape to create the big, chewy mouth-feel that is a clear signature of Red Mountain Cab. Another distinction is the hint of orange peel or Grand Marnier like aromatics and flavours. Should be aged for at least a year, but save some for a further three. Great for your best cuts of beef or lamb. $174.99
Cabernet Merlot
Bare Ridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Washington
The Walla Walla, Washington area is what put that state on the world wine map, especially for it's reds. The wines are now grouped with world standard reds from Bordeaux, Napa and Sonoma, and the Walla Walla reds consistently rank in the top 10 list in America.
This Cab Merlot is a classic Bordeaux blend, but typifying the area's profile of intense fruit and spice flavours and aromatics. Notes of currants, cherry and plum are backed by hints of black pepper, anise and coffee. The oaking mellows the tannis and adds suggestions of toastiness. $154.99
Cabernet Shiraz
White Sands Rattlesnake Vineyards, Yakima Washington.
Yakima Cabernet and Shiraz are often compared to the great wines of Australia, but recognized for having their own, perhaps more sophisticated charm. If you likes those big Ausie reds, this is a wine for your collection.
A blockbuster with a rush of blackberry, plum, cherry and candied orange fragrances, which is followed by flavours of currant, fig, cedar and spice intertwined with a beautiful balance of toasted oak. The result is a rich, elegant finish.$154.99
Chateau du Pays
This multiple medal winner is in the style of another great wine with the name Chateau from the Rhone Valley. Like the other wine, this version from Cellar Craft derives its complex characters from a blending of a number of varietal grapes including Syrah, Carignan and Grenache.
You will find rich flavours suggestive of cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum combined with notes of pepper and chocolate. The finish shows a subtle herbaceous note and a suggestion of cedar and violets. $154.99
Merlot
White Sands Vineyard, Yakima Valley.
Cellar Craft Washington State Merlot is ahead of the class when it comes to wine kits. This multi medal winner is bold, yet elegant, big and full with upfront waves of raspberry, blackberry and plum. You will find that subtle notes of cedar and mocha follow the fruit. American oak balances the tannins and creates harmony.$154.99
Pinotage
Du Plessis Organic Vineyard, Breede River Valley, South Africa.
This is south africa's signature grape and was created in the 1920's by crossing Burgundy's delicate Pinot Noir and Rhone's robust Cinsault. The grapes for this kit come from the slopes of Keeromsberg Mountians at 6800 feet above sea level, where the vineyard enjoys a combination of hot days and cool nights, which is ideal for growing Pinotage.
This certified organic vineyard is carefully managed for low yields to ensure solid concentration of flavours in the finished wine. The kit contains Cellar Crafts two stage oaking process which results in a long lingering finish. After four months in the bottle, we won a silver medal at a major wine competition in Ontario. Further refinement is expected for up to two years.
The wine has the aromatics of black pepper, red currants, vanilla, spice, cedar, toasted hazelnuts, cherry and the trademark notes of banana, plus a slight earthiness. The flavour is complex with dominate currant, cherry, banana, blackberry, vanilla and toastiness. The wine is beautifully balanced, has great colour, medium, soft tannins and a long, clean finish. Pinotage compliments a wide range of foods. It pairs well with barbequed ribs, burgers, chicken, curries and casseroles. It is wonderful with salmon. The best match though is just you and some friends and a bottle of Pinotage. $159.99
Rosso Fortissimo
This is the one that started the whole grape pack movement for Cellar Craft and the kit wine industry. For those of us who have been drinking it from the start, every time we open a new bottle is like a memory of a first love, but without getting in trouble with the wife.
This is a mutli medal winning Super-Tuscan style wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and native Italian varieties; especially Sangiovese. It is a big, full-bodied wine with solid structure and bold fruit notes. French and American oak contribute toasty vanilla and perfect balance to this intense wine. $154.99
Shiraz
Stellenbosch Hills Vineyard, South Africa.
This was a limited edition wine in 2007 and after a large number of requests from you, our customers, Cellar Craft has brought it back. If you are lucky, like Nancy and I, you may still have some left in your wine cellar. If not, you know what to do.
Shiraz and Syrah are the same wine and both are made from the Syrah grape. South African Shiraz from the Stellenbosch region is perhaps the most exciting new style of this popular wine. It is discriped as having Rhone-style backbone, but with heady, New World, up-front fruit, but more refined than many Australian "fruit bombs.
Fermentation on Cellar Craft's Crushed Grape Pack of Stellenbosch Shiraz grapes ensures the wine shows heightened layers of blackberry, boysenberry, fig and plum, followed by notes of cocoa, chocolate and coffee. The two-stage oak treatment of French and Hungarian oaks, contributes vanilla and toast, while haromonizing the many flavours within the wine. A subtle hint of mineral remains in the background, then accompanies the fruit through the long finish.
The wine will begin to show its potential after 6 months ageing, and should continue to develop for at least 2 years. We found at 4 years it becomes out of this world$158.99
Syrah
Rattlesnake Vineyard, Yakima Valley Washington.
Yakima Valley Syrah is also a multi medal winner. It is bold, rich and lively, seductively perfumed and heroically structured with a kiss of elegance. Expect an aromatic rush of red and black fruit, plus hints of chocolate, coffee and licorice, followed by the spiciness of black pepper. $154.99
Tempranillo
La Mancha, Spain.
This is the grape that gives the power to Spanish Rioja. The vines are pruned low to the ground, and the grapes are hand harvested from a vineyard that supplies many respected Spanish wineries. La Mancha Tempranillo is characterized by juicy fruit quality with bright aromas and flavours of ripe cherries, followed by hints of cocoa and spice. It shows a racy texture and is medium-bodied. The style will appeal to those who enjoy modern, approachable Chianti, Valpolicella and Beaujolais. As a plus, Cellar Craft's unique oak treatment will add extra complexity and depth that makes this Tempranillo more versatile with food pairings.
The oak process yields soft tannins and contributes a warm vanilla nose as a perfect balance to the dominate cherry aromas and background suggestions of black current and spice. The flavours echo the aroma with layers of vanilla, current, coffee and black pepper that linger through the active finish. While young the wine profiles its powerful fruit character. After 4-6 months in the bottle, the fruit begins to integrate with the oak and develop a more lush, balanced complexity. The wine will continue to develop for at least a year, and will be good for at least another 1 to 2 years.
Food pairings: With a few months ageing, the wine will be soft enough to be used as a social sipper while nibbling Spanish-style tapas, but with enough grip to pair with barbaqued foods, chicken, pork, ham and spicy Indian and texMex dishes. A natural with the earthy flavours of Spanish Paella. $154.99 Temporarily out of stock
Zinfandel
Old Vines, Ferrero Vineyards, Lodi California.
This is a hidden gem in our wine selection and is not one of those blush wines. It is one of Nancy and my favourites but the problem is people can't get around the name Zinfandel. It has to be one of our favourite wines, but the name's association with those mass produced blush wines prevents people from trying it. This is a big red that exhibits silken layers of multi-dimensional delight. It starts up front with a core of blackberry and dark cherry aromas, followed by suggestions of blueberry, raspberry, cranberry and dried plum. There are undertones of chocolate, almond and exotic spice and it ends with an unmistakable black pepper sensation. $154.99
Zweigelt
Select (tzvi-gelt) Weigut Huber, Traisental, Austria.
This is Austria's mostly widely planted red grape and has gained world wide favour because of its appealing fruit and spicy character, which is likened to a Cotes-Du-Rhone. Zweigelt is also cold hardy and early ripening; important traits in the cool Austrian vineyards. It is also being grown in the Okanagan and used to make wine at Arrowleaf and Hainle Vineyards. Try Hainle's Z3 wine.
This Zweigelt from the Huber family estate produces dark, dense wine without excessive weight. It is dark cherry in colour, with an opulent boquet of red fruit, including raspberry, blueberry, cherry and currant, which stands against a background of vanilla, black pepper and a hint of licorice. There is also a certain earthiness on the nose that provides a compelling counter-balance to the lively fruit and spice. The flavours echo the cherry, currant and earthy aromatics. The initial rustic tannins quickly mellow into a nicely structured state, which contributes to a nice, long finish.
Zweigelt is a wine you will want to discouver as its spicy, fruit-driven qualities and moderate tannins makes it a welcome alternative to the usual Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah/Shiraz. It is a great food wine, especially Austrian favorites like garliky pork, cabbage and apples and braised shanks or ribs.$170.99