Report on Bolero Shiraz Kit

Jul 18, 2004 3 Replies
K

Summary: : ( It has had what I call a "very berry" taste- not too much unlike unsweetened Kool-Aid. I added both tannin and oak at ferment to no avail. Still Very Berry. Added more oak at secondary and again later. Bottled after 8 months. Still too berry, thin, not much bite. Very un-Shiraz.



Brew shop advertised it as Shiraz grape must. Arrived as full 6 liter Grape Must no a concentrate. Brand: "Bolero" by RJ Spagnols. "Australian Style Shiraz" packaged as 23 Liter Sterile Bag in a pail. Didn't expect it to be a kit per se but it came with Sulfite, Sorbate, yeast, oak and Bentonite.



Not too pleased as it cost $119 + tax (Missouri). Maybe body will improve after age? Any one here had experience with 6 liter grape juice from Spagnols?



KB St. Charles, MO



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R

I have been very satisfied with Spagnols white wines but I did make one of their Shiraz kits and was very dissatisfied. At four years I finally poured out the last of my bottles as they just were not worth drinking. At one year it was okay but that seemed to be it's peak and it just slowly got worse.

Ray

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I

I assume you mean 23 litre kits (6 US Gallons/5 Imperial)-makes the standard 30 bottles.

I tried the Bolero Cab Sauv--it was my first kit, and I have made many others since. You price seems a little excessive considering you can buy same in Canada for about $C100 or 75 US, but I understand most kits cost more in US due to "markup"/importation etc.

I don't think that the Bolero is that much better than a decent (but not top drawer) kit. Some have suggested that the Bolero is simply the normal kit already diluted to the 23 litres--it is convenient, but not any better than a typical 15 litre kit.

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A

Hi, The best shiraz that I've tasted is the Spagnol's En Premeur Australian Shiraz. Its an 18l kit and sells for a little over $100 cnd.

Al

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