Cru Select Cabernet Sauvignon
RJS Craft Winemaking
The kit I'd hand a confident beginner who wants their first batch to actually impress someone.
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- Varietal
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Volume
- 16 L / 30 bottles
- Time to bottle
- 6 weeks
- ABV
- 13%
- Body
- full
- Price
- $165
Pros
- Big, structured Cab character — not the thin 'kit wine' taste
- Includes a generous oak pack so you don't have to buy your own
- Reaches dry cleanly — no stuck fermentations across three batches
- Bottles drinkable at week 8, genuinely good at month 4
Cons
- Pricier than entry-level kits (~$165 at our local shop)
- Needs a real degassing — skip it and you'll regret it
- Six gallons is a commitment for a household of two
Tasting notes
Aroma
Black cherry, cedar, a little vanilla from the oak. Smells like an actual Cab, not like grape juice.
Palate
Medium-full body, firm tannins that round off after a few months, dark fruit, mocha edge.
Finish
Long enough to notice. A little dry on the back end at week 8, smoother by month 4.
Pairings
Grilled steak, mushroom risotto, aged cheddar, anything braised.
How it fermented
The boring data nobody else publishes. SG numbers, timing, and what we noticed.
- Starting SG: 1.092 — right where the kit promised.
- Primary done in 7 days at 70°F. Vigorous, no babysitting.
- Racked to carboy day 8, SG 0.996. Clean ferment, minimal lees.
- Degassed twice with the drill whip — this kit holds CO₂ stubbornly.
- Crystal clear by week 4 with the included clearing agents.
Who it's for
Anyone past their first kit who wants to step up without committing to an 18L Amarone. Confident beginners who already own a 6-gallon carboy and want a red they're proud to pour.
Where to buy
We bought ours from Adventures in Homebrewing. Other retailers we've verified stock it:
Get the supplies first
Don't open this kit without the gear. Russ's matching shopping list:
Premium Red Aging Shopping List
Built around an Amarone or Cab kit you plan to age 12+ months. Get the oak, the SO2, and the corks right.
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