Chateau Classico 6 Week Wine Kit, Italian Dolcetto, 40-Pound Box

I bought this kit along with a Cab Style back in October. I bottled them January 2, 2010. So far the wine is aging nicely. It has started smoothing out considerably. With a couple of more months of aging I expect it to be a very drinkable wine. Considering that it is $40-50 less than other kits I have made, it holds up well against those kits. I bought this one not only for the price point, but also because it is one of the only Dolcetto kits available.

I was a little disappointed that no oak was included in this and the Cab kit.

All-in-all, one will not be disappointed with the results, and a little tinkering may make it even better.

Update 12/20/2011: I have subsequently made another Dolcetto, this time adding oak chips for a week after stabilizing and fining. This has really added some body to the wine and has improved the finished product immensely.

I added 1 pound frozen sweet cherries to must and allowed to ferment fully. After 2nd racking, allowed to bulk age with french oak for 6 months.

After bottling, allow at least 2 months aging in bottle before drinking.

Improves as it ages. Actually quite pleasant to dink!

I don't follow kit instructions: I do a 1-step fermentation in 6-gal glass carboy and then do my first racking; after approximately 30 days; I rack again and add oak sticks; I pitch all the additives that come with the kit and make wine the natural way.

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