summersolstice
Well-Known Member
I didn't see an appropriate category in the reviews section and perhaps this wouldn't be too interesting to the board as a whole so I'll review them here.
Each year two or three of the major wine kit manufacturers come out with a limited edition dessert port-style wine kit. The kits are available on a preorder basis and have 12L of pure juice and make three gallons. They come with an additional foil pack for adding the flavor to the port at the end of the fermentation process. These kits are high in alcohol and very sweet so a little goes a long way. Due to the fact they're limited release, they're only sold once during the year and once they're gone, that's it.
Last year I made the R.J. Spagnols Cru Select Orange Chocolate Port. This was a truly amazing wine that received raves from nearly everyone who tried it. You can pour a glass of deep ruby liquid and hold it at arm's length and literally smell the chocolate. It was a fairly common practice to add brandy or Everclear to boost the alcohol, as is done in commercial ports. I added a pint of Everclear in an attempt to offset the sweetness a bit. I bottled the entire batch in 375ml bottles and only have 12-15 left. They make fantastic gifts and they were ready for Christmas gifting.
This year, as they did last year, Wine Expert is offering a Chocolate Raspberry port-style wine. I placed my order yesterday. Ausitn Homebrew has them available as a pre-order and you pay up front for delivery in September. If this wine is half as good as the Orange Chocolate Port I won't be disappointed. By all accounts, it is. I've read a lot of reports from people who made them last year.
Apparently R.J. Spagnols is offering a limited edition Cru Select White Chocolate White Port available as a pre-order beginning sometime in August so I guess they aren't doing the Orange Chocolate this year. I like the tartness the orange, and I'm certain the raspberry, imparts and I don't know how well a straight chocolate would be.
Each year two or three of the major wine kit manufacturers come out with a limited edition dessert port-style wine kit. The kits are available on a preorder basis and have 12L of pure juice and make three gallons. They come with an additional foil pack for adding the flavor to the port at the end of the fermentation process. These kits are high in alcohol and very sweet so a little goes a long way. Due to the fact they're limited release, they're only sold once during the year and once they're gone, that's it.
Last year I made the R.J. Spagnols Cru Select Orange Chocolate Port. This was a truly amazing wine that received raves from nearly everyone who tried it. You can pour a glass of deep ruby liquid and hold it at arm's length and literally smell the chocolate. It was a fairly common practice to add brandy or Everclear to boost the alcohol, as is done in commercial ports. I added a pint of Everclear in an attempt to offset the sweetness a bit. I bottled the entire batch in 375ml bottles and only have 12-15 left. They make fantastic gifts and they were ready for Christmas gifting.
This year, as they did last year, Wine Expert is offering a Chocolate Raspberry port-style wine. I placed my order yesterday. Ausitn Homebrew has them available as a pre-order and you pay up front for delivery in September. If this wine is half as good as the Orange Chocolate Port I won't be disappointed. By all accounts, it is. I've read a lot of reports from people who made them last year.
Apparently R.J. Spagnols is offering a limited edition Cru Select White Chocolate White Port available as a pre-order beginning sometime in August so I guess they aren't doing the Orange Chocolate this year. I like the tartness the orange, and I'm certain the raspberry, imparts and I don't know how well a straight chocolate would be.
