A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot (there are even small amounts of Syrah and Grenache), the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve is a delicious, high quality, classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries, some tobacco, and cedar notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, classy, balanced, delicious red.

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve is one of the most distinctive wines in the range, not to mention a fabulous value. Gravel, blueberry pie, lavender, mint and white flowers are all beautifully delineated. Pliant and open, but with striking mineral/savory underpinnings from the Knights Valley fruit, the 2015 is a winner. Don't miss it.

This dark ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Kendall Jackson opens with a fragrant black raspberry, boysenberry and coconut bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is a coconut influenced red plum with notes of acai berry and thyme. The finish is dry and its building tannins stick around for a very long time. This Cab would pair well with a messy rack of barbecue ribs. Very good.

Recommended California Cabernets of 2014 Big tannins are immediately obvious, giving way to classic blackcurrant fruit. There's a certain Bordelais lift to the flavour; the palate is graceful and long. 89 points.

With cooler weather coming your way, grab some charcoal and a bottle of this wine for your next outdoor cookout. Grown on steep mountainous vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Aged in both French and American barrels, the wine offers layers of spice and toasty oak nuances, which will complement the charred flavours of the grill. A lively palate of lush wild cherries, cassis and blackberries are framed with hints of anise, mocha and cedar. Robust and full-bodied with chewy tannins that will go perfectly with the last steak of the summer. Time t fire up that grill. 89 points.

This very dark ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Kendall Jackson opens with plum and cranberry like bouquet with a hint of red raspberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced, round and approachable. The flavor profile is a mild black plum and gentle oak blend with notes of nicely integrated soft minerality with a hint of black currant. The finish is dry and its mild tannins stick around for quite some time. While this Cab is not the most complex wine, it is tasty and will be a crowd pleaser, I would pair it with a juicy bacon burger. 89 points. Very good.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve is absolutely delicious. Raspberry jam, mocha, dark spices and leather flesh out in a juicy, succulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next handful of years. This is a superb Cabernet for the money, especially considering the size of the production.

I tasted seven separate Cabernet Sauvignons from Kendall-Jackson. The least expensive wine (now up to $30.00 a bottle, and all from Sonoma) is their 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner’s Reserve. They obviously made a choice to go with higher-quality vineyards that raise the price. This is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (92.7%, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah, Tannat and Malbec). Not a lot of new oak is used, although nearly two-thirds of it is French and the rest American. This is probably the best Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve ever tasted. Sweet black cherries, blackcurrants, licorice, forest floor and subtle barrique notes are followed by a succulent, fleshy, medium-bodied wine loaded with fruit and velvety tannins. This wine will drink well, and possibly even improve, over the next 8-10 years.

Such an elegant, yet expressive Californian Cabernet on the nose. Aromas of blackcurrant cassis mingle with dried herbs and cigar box. The palate opens to layers of dark fruit anise and smoke. Terrific balance, depth and length with a dry finish. Pair with filet mignon or lamb with rosemary.

Bright and smooth with ripe plum, blackberry and tangy acidity; classic and balanced with lovely vanilla oak and fine texture; long and charming.

Even better is the 2008 Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It is made from 100% estate fruit with 70% coming from Sonoma and 30% from Napa. A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this serious Cabernet exhibits a deep ruby/purple-tinged hue as well as notes of cedar, charcoal, black cherries, black currants, licorice and herbs. Medium-bodied and rich with silky tannins and surprisingly abundant richness and extract, it should drink nicely for 5-6 years, perhaps longer. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis à vis price for its wines. Any offering from Kendall-Jackson bearing the Vintner's Reserve designation will offer much more quality than its humble price suggests.

With a little Merlot and Petit Verdot, this is a softly lush, opulent Cab. It shows the intensity of the fruit that comes from mountain viticulture, with concentrated cherry, blackberry and mocha-cola flavors, layered with one-third new French oak. The tannins are rich and refined.

Slightly bigger and more structured is the 2004 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estates (a blend of 88% Sonoma and 12% Napa fruit). A combination of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, an attractive nose of black currants, licorice, cedar, and spice box, and a medium-bodied, structured style. Give it 1-2 more years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 10-14 years.

Deep red-ruby. Aromas of plum, chocolate and tobacco leaf. Juicy, tangy and intense, with sweet, well-defined flavors of black plum, licorice, minerals and menthol. Firmly structured, serious cabernet with good lift. Possesses the sweetness of fruit to stand up to its rather firm tannins.

Deep ruby-red. Aromas of currant, chocolate, coffee, mocha, flowers, tobacco and smoky oak. Slightly dry-edged but brisk, with flavors of currant, plum, tobacco, bitter chocolate, espresso and currant leaf. Finishes with tongue-dusting tannins that avoid dryness.

Kendall-Jackson's 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve comes from an assortment of vineyards from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (98%), it was made by K-J's longtime winemaker, Randy Ullom. Approaching full maturity, it offers up notes of cedarwood, black currants, roasted coffee and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied with beautiful ripeness and balance as well as a long finish, it should be consumed over the next 10-12 years.

This generous and somewhat seductive wine reminds a bit of fine Merlot in its frontal sweetness and outgoing smells of berries, cherries, caramel and chocolate, but, by mid-palate, it lays full claim to Cabernet as its tannins come into view. If on the gruff and somewhat astringent side of things just now, it has the right mix of fruity richness and vitality to keep improving for a good six or seven years.

A big step up from the 2000 VR. Black peppery, earthy, licorice, black fruit-cassis nose. Round, supple, dry and rich with very spicy, black peppery, vanilla, meaty, cassis flavours and a black olive, licorice, blackberry finish. Good texture and concentration and lovely mid-palate weight.

A nice step up from the 2000 VR. Black peppery, earthy, licorice, cassis, leather and spicy nose. Round, supple, dry and rich with very spicy, black peppery, vanilla, meaty, cassis flavours and a black olive, licorice, black berry finish. Good texture and concentration. You can drink now or keep for two to three years.

Deep ruby. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted Quite tannic. Smoked meat, herbs, dried black fruit. Firmly structured, with aromatic smoky oak notes and a long dry finish. A distinctive style for hearty lamb and beef dishes.

Magenta. Medium-bodied. Full acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately tannic. Cherries, brown spice. Piquantly spiced and lively, but essentially mild in its flavors. Finishes with a warm sensation.

A structured, deliciously fruity, nicely extracted, expansive, supple, textbook Zinfandel with plenty of smoky, briary, black-cherry fruit. Although forward, the wine possesses enough depth and balance to last for 5-6 years.

Zesty and precise, with lively raspberry and toasty spice flavors than finish on a crisp, refined note.

This wine has a delicious core of supple, satisfying black-cherry and blackberry flavors accented by light oak spice and salt and pepper. While full bodied, the wine's texture is quite smooth and only mildly tannic to keep it in balance.