This wine offers gamy aromas of grilled lamb, black pepper, dried fennel and dark blackberry. The palate shows roasted espresso bean, tart black plum and more cracked pepper, touching on all of the grape's hallmark characters.

Tempting spicy aromas like cedar and clove lead to rich but bright fruit flavors shaded by smoke and black pepper. This wine has commendable complexity without going over the top, and a nice, firm texture of fine tannins and good acidity for balance.

There is only a small quantity of the inky/purple-colored 2006 Grand Reserve Syrah which offers chocolatey, blackberry, charcoal, pepper and earth notes.

Anyone who would dismiss the Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve tier of wines as mass-market juice is making a serious error. The wines are all admirably seriously styled, well made, vividly true to the grape variety, and surprisingly concentrated and flavorful. This Syrah is able to go toe-to-toe with counterparts at the price point from anywhere, and will leave most of its competitors on the canvas. Impressively dark and deeply colored, with fruit notes that recall black cherries and dark berries, along with very subtle wood-based scents and background notes of fresh meat and cocoa, this is a remarkable performance at this price level.

Grown predominantly on Central Coast hillside, mountain and benchland vineyards, this gentle syrah has a voluptuous texture enriched by red and blue woodland berry fruit. Pretty remarkable at the price given its layers of aromatics, from licorice to dark-roast coffee and earthiness. A restrained style of syrah for grilled meats.

Grown predominantly on Central Coast hillside, mountain and benchland vineyards, this gentle syrah has a voluptuous texture enriched by red and blue woodland berry fruit. Pretty remarkable at the price, given its layers of aromatics, from licorice to dark-roast coffee and earthiness. Plenty of good quality Syrah from a major player in California viticulture....Kendall-Jackson's Vintner's Reserve is a steal.

Syrah aged 11 months in French oak, of which one-third is new. The deep ruby/purple-hued 2002 displays big, pepper, blackberry aromas and flavors with a notion of graphite in the background.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...The bigger, more complex and structured 1999 Great Estates Merlot exhibits this varietal's tell-tale chocolate/espresso characteristics along with a medium to full-bodied, powerful, Bordeaux-like personality.

Attuned to the ripe, lush side of Merlot's varietal character, this wine is among those that hue to the juicy, succulent side of the Merlot potential. It is open, ripe, fruity and enriched by a note of cocoa. Only nominally tannic, its willingness to be Merlot instead of Cabernet imitation is appreciated.

Smells rich and chocolaty, with blackberry and plum scents framed in plush, smoky oak. You'll like the richly sweet flavors, offering layers of berries and tree fruits, and the lush structure provided by fine, dusty tannins. It's overtly soft, with low acidity, and very flattering on the palate.

Smells rich and oaky, with plush berry fruit, oriental spice and plums. High quality, with ripe, distinctive fruit. Balanced and elegant, with lots of pedigree. Young and tannic.

The palate is filled with gobs of briar fruit and bing cherries. Herbal notes on the nose reemerge on the mid-palate adding hints of tarragon and black pepper. The wine finishes with incredible warmth and chunky tannins. The lush, round mouthfeel offers enjoyment now, however, the tannins and great concentration suggest moderate aging potential.

The 2015 Merlot Vintner's Reserve is soft, open-knit and absolutely delicious. Inky blueberry fruit, lavender, mint and cloves all flesh out in this very pretty, mid-weight Merlot. Lifted and inviting, the 2015 is a terrific choice for drinking over the next few years.

Dark cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and tobacco are pushed forward in the 2014 Merlot Grand Reserve. Succulent and polished, the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring.

There's good cut to this minerally red, which features luscious raspberry, dark plum and blackberry flavors. Well-structured, with a spicy and chocolaty finish.

From a site in Bennett Valley, the 2014 Merlot Jackson Estate Taylor Peak is dark and plush to the core. An infusion of black stone fruit, chocolate, spice and leather takes shape in the glass. This is the most overt of the three Merlots I tasted from Kendall-Jackson.

Elegant Reds Sleek and well-built, this red offers appealing notes of black cherry, spicy toast and herb. (T.F.)

Sleek, with appealing notes of black cherry, spicy toast and herb.

Sleek and well-built, with appealing notes of black cherry, spicy toast and herb.

The Merlot Vintner's Reserve is a tasty, hearty red to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, plum, herb and tobacco add nuance on the close. This is a very serious wine for the money.

Kendall-Jackson's 2013 Merlot Jackson Estate Taylor Peak is laced with iron, smoke, herb, tobacco and cedar notes, while the fruit is very much in the background. This is an especially savory Merlot with tons of acidity and tannin that give the wine its personality.

Even better than the Vintner's Reserve is the 2012 Merlot Grand Reserve, which comes from their estate vineyards in Sonoma. This is a 21,000-case cuvée, and for the extra few dollars, I’d opt for this one. Espresso roast interwoven with blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, forest floor, vanilla and spice jump from the glass of this wine, which is essentially 100% Merlot (in actuality 99.7%, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec). About 22% new French oak was used in the upbringing of this wine. It should drink nicely for 7-8 years.

Spry and well-balanced, with appealing aromas of currant and tomato leaf and focused flavors of cherry, spiced herb and cedar.

Another terrific value, the 2012 Merlot Vintner's Reserve is a tasty, easygoing red to drink over the near-term. Savory herbs, gravel, smoke and tobacco add nuance to a core of dark fruit in a friendly, supple Merlot with plenty of appeal.

I love this Merlot not for its intensity, but for its restraint and moderation. That doesn't mean it lacks for flavor. The aromas of plum and red currant are bright and focused, with a lingering finish. But the beauty is the balance, with no one element overwhelming the other. There is a hint of warm wood spice, but it doesn't dominate. And the alcohol by volume (ABV) comes in at a modest 13.5 percent. Serve this wine with grilled meats and watch it shine.