Medium ruby red color; spicy, strawberry, cherry aromas; lighter in body, good acidity, spicy, strawberry fruit, lingering finish. Ripe, bright, light in body, this is pleasant to drink and would go with a lot of lighter foods.

Deep raspberry and cherry fruit buttressed by creamy vanillin oak and an earthy, animal element opens this dark, tangy wine. More of the same follows in the mouth where licorice, cocoa and espresso accents adds interest. Rich and burly, it closes with full but supple tannins.

Lean and focused, with a solid core of wild cherry, strawberry and herb flavors. Finishes clean and fairly long, with moderate acidity and ripe, firm tannins.

Deep ruby to the rim. Moderately full-bodied.Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, vanilla, brown spices. Pleasantly aromatic, this wine has a soft and supple entry that sharpens up on the finish with some solid acidity and mild astringence. Well made and flavorful.

There is no lack of substance or size to this hefty offering, and it teams elements of spice, smoke and slight chocolate with its ripe, somewhat blackberry-like fruit in a solid, fairly full-bodied look at the variety, and, if a little blunt and short on polish, it is a lot of wine for the money and shows more aging potential than Syrahs of its price are wont to do. One star, good value

Balancing generous fruit against peppery tannins, this sunny syrah is ideal for lamb burgers.

The 2009 Syrah Vintner's Reserve bursts from the glass with dark cherries, licorice, game and spices. This plump, juicy red has plenty of varietal character and an engaging personality suited to drinking over the next 1-2 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014.

There is always a question about consistency when a wine is made in large lots, but our sample of Kendall-Jackson's everyday-priced Syrah shows a professional hand with respect to composition and well-defined fruit. Fairly deep, nicely balanced and not so tannic as to preclude drinking now, it is a downright steal at the price.

With KJ's vast grape sourcing, getting ripe fruit obviously wasn't a problem. This wine is ripe and juicy, with somewhat candied berry flavors and sweet caramelly notes. Soft and easy to drink.

The 1999 Grand Reserve Merlot offers a sweet perfume of chocolate, cherries, mocha, and vanilla, tangy acidity, medium to full body, and a spicy finish with noticeable oak.

Lively, with good depth to fresh herb, plum and currant flavors, nicely underscored by firm tannins and toasty oak.

Cherry, plum, currant, milk chocolate, menthol and spice on the nose. Fat, round and sweet; nicely integrated acids give the red-currant flavor lovely vinosity. Finishes with fairly substantial tongue-dusting tannins.

…dark ruby/purple colors, abundant spicy oak, medium body, and moderate tannin. The Merlot reveals more dried herb, berry fruit, and smoke…

Medium bodied with fine tannins and moderate acidity. Subtle black cherry and richly fruity flavors are played out on a framework of sweet oak.

Serves up lots of nice flavors, including smooth currant, chocolate, herb and spicy buttery oak, and the flavors stay with you on the long, full, focused finish. Has the tannins to age, but you can enjoy it now, too.

The 2014 Merlot Vintner's Reserve is soft, fruity and tasty. Black cherry, chocolate and sweet spice make the Merlot a good choice for drinking over the next year or two.

The 2013 Merlot Vintner’s Reserve is a 95,000-case cuvée made from 94.5% Merlot and the rest the other Bordeaux varietals. The wine is surprisingly good, and I’ve seen this cuvée strengthen in quality over the last few years. Notes of mocha, coffee bean, black cherry and currants are present in this medium-bodied, supple-textured, heady wine to drink over the next 4-5 years.

Kendall-Jackson has made a major effort to increase the quality of Merlot, because of the climbing sales of this varietal and all the negative publicity Merlot received (unfairly) after the breakthrough wine comedy, “Sideways.” The 2012 Merlot Vintner’s Reserve, which comes from their estate vineyards in Sonoma, represents 126,000 cases of a blend of 97% Merlot and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Only about 16% new oak is used, and both French and American are employed. This is relatively serious Merlot, with notes of ripe black cherry, coffee bean, a hint of chocolate and herbs. This is medium-bodied, fleshy, deep and ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years.

The 2012 Merlot Jackson Estate Taylor Peak hits the palate with huge dark fruit, chocolate, mocha, spices, tobacco, oak and leather. The super-rich, concentrated style comes across as a bit forced, while the balance of the best wines in this range is lacking.

Lots of lush, fancy features in this Merlot, although K-J does have to be careful not to price the Vintner’s Reserve line out of affordability. Blended with all the classic Bordeaux varieties, the wine is dry and full-bodied, with blackberry, cherry, violet and plum flavors.

The 2009 Merlot Vintner's Reserve shows excellent plumpness and juiciness along with an open, approachable personality. Ripe red berries, flowers, licorice and spices are some of the notes that flow from this flavorful Merlot. Subtle floral and earthy notes add complexity on the finish. This is another strong performance in the Vintner's Reserve series. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014.

Here's a supple, polished Merlot that shows lots of North Coast class. It's fully dry, with rich, smooth tannins and complex flavors of black currants, cedar and herbs. good buy for under $20.

The cherry, mocha and chocolate-scented 2006 Vintner's Reserve Merlot is also quite good.

Also represents an upgrade in quality. It exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, pleasant mocha and berry fruit, medium body, and a clean, surprisingly complex finish.