Dark, rich and ripe with black fruit and juicy acidity; balanced, fresh and charming with a long finish.

Like several other KJ Vintner's Reserve reds we've recommended lately, this wine is simple and clean, with saturation of flavor rather than excess weight. It focuses on tart red cherry flavor, almost Bing cherry in its brightness, with a meaty density underneath - the sort of red that's easy to drink with grilled chicken. A super value.

Winemaker Randy Ullom is well respected, and deservedly so, for the cleverness with which he manages K-J's Vintner's Reserve range. The wines are typically blends from Jess Jackson properties littered all over California, and keeping track of it all must be a bit of a nightmare at harvest. I say the man's a genius. Ullom not only keeps track of those thousands of individual lots, he makes perfect sense with them. The Syrah is one of the best wines in the Vintner's Reserve line and the '08 exhibits layered blueberry and black cherry nuance with a hint of animal and smokey oak...

Well done in '05, with that appealing KJ styling sitting over a ripe, smoky, peppery syrah, with just a hint of meaty, gamey notes. The palate is round and supple, with tasty vanilla, black cherry, licorice root and coffee flavours. Impressive dry, black fruit flavours run through the finish. It's 92 percent syrah with bits of carignane, grenache and petite sirah. With 72 percent French oak and climbing, and all-estate fruit, it is well on the way to stardom.

It seems as though the Vintner's Reserve wines, the lowest rung on the K-J ladder, has found another gear and are once again close to being the industry leaders in this price category. The '03 Syrah has plenty of horsepower, with bold dark berry fruit notes and a flattering earthiness that gives this wine a touch of character.

Deep ruby. Brooding aromas of blackberry, licorice, espresso and earth, along with some meaty reduction. Juicy and penetrating but smooth in the mouth, with cassis and smoked meat flavors firmed by the bright acids and complicated by nutty oak, smoke and flint. Finishes with dusty tannins and an enticing floral note. Very syrah.

Supple textured, with a mix of creamy mocha, earth, mineral, and currant flavors and a touch of rustic earthiness. Complex and concentrated, with a twinge of vegetal herbaceousness and gritty tannins.

Full deep red. Aromas of red cherry, plum, loam, leather, milk chocolate and spicy oak. Full, sweet and lush, with enticing fruit shaped by firm acidity. Layered and concentrated. Ripe, lingering finish features fine tannins.

Bright, deep ruby-red. Currant, truffle, chocolate, mocha and a note of menthol on the nose. Sweet and lush, with chewy flavors of dark berries, carob, smoke and mocha, plus a hint of greenness. Nicely supple wine that finishes with strong currant flavor, sweet tannins and a repeating green note.

Aromas of smoke, plum, earth , espresso and blackberry are pleasant. In the mouth, the flavors are terrifically extracted, with pronounced berry and stone-fruit notes that are very dry. It's on the soft side, with velvety tannins. The lip-smacking finish is deliciously spicy.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...The 1998 Great Estates Merlot offers up sweet black cherry fruit aromas and flavors with notions of vanilla and mocha in the background. medium to full-bodied, with chocolatey notes on the palate, and lush tannin...

A soft, pretty, supple, Merlot marked by cherry aromas and spicy berry flavors. Soft and friendly, with plenty of charm, and enough acidity and tannins to lend it authority…

"Orange peel, black fruits, roasted plums. Aggressively structured and mouthfilling. Fruit is tight right now, but the length and depth here are promising." Cellar Selection.

An intense nose of mocha, herb, chocolate, and black-cherries. Full-bodied, with excellent concentration, and a long spicy finish, this is one of those rare, top-notch California Merlots that can be drunk now or cellared for 10-12 years.

The Merlot Grand Reserve represents the new direction of Kendall-Jackson's reds, as it is very rich, ripe fruit, medium to full body, and admirable extraction. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

This deep purple magenta-edged effort coats both the glass and the tip of your tongue with its fleshy, viscous texture. Scents of violets, marigolds, black plums and black currants are held within a framework of new French oak. Serve this big, rounded red with grilled baby eggplant drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

This pitch black colored Merlot opens with a blackberry and prune like bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a blackberry and mild mineral blend with notes of oak and black licorice. There is a hint of black pepper and red grapes toward the end. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins are friendly. This Merlot would pair well with bistro food. I would pick barbecue steak tips. 88 points. Very good.

Solidly built, with aromas of currant and cedar leading to firm flavors of cherry, herb and spice.

The 2013 Merlot Grand Reserve is a surprisingly powerful wine at this level. Smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco, licorice and blackberry jam are some of the signatures. The tannins are a bit imposing and extracted, especially for a wine most consumers will drink upon release.

At this price the K-J 2013 is one of the best values in California merlot. With a good bit of heft and richness, this is a solid wine that can stand up to roasted and barbecued meats. It shows aromas of currant and plum with a backnote of woodspice and a long, satisfying finish.

A sweet rendition of what can be a drier and more serious wine, this wine nonetheless proves very enticing, as it exhibits good depth of flavor and fine balance. Drink in with foods that themselves have a touch of sweetness--barbecued chicken, for example.

The 2011 Merlot Grand Reserve is laced with dark red stone fruits, sweet tobacco, licorice and new leather. Juicy and pliant, the 2011 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next 2-3 years.

Dark plums, cherries, mocha, chocolate and spices all flesh out in 2010 Merlot Grand Reserve. There is no shortage of depth and richness in this boisterous Sonoma County Merlot. I prefer to enjoy the 2010 over the next few years, while the fruit remains juicy and radiant. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Smooth and lush with ripe plum and juicy acidity; fresh, balanced and long with depth and lovely style.

The 2009 Merlot Grand Reserve is a dark, full-bodied wine loaded with black cherries, plums, chocolate, spices and licorice. This is a far from easygoing Merlot. There is plenty of underlying structure to balance the fruit. The 2009 Grand Reserve has more then enough character to stand up to the heartiest of cuisines. A dollop of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon was added in the final blend. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.