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.

A nice measure of ripe and well-formed cherryish fruit takes the lead in this mildly herbal and carefully oaked middleweight.

Herbaceous, with basil and oregano atop a tart cherry base. Crisp.

fruit scents emerge out of the tar-black tannins of this wine, their bitter edge balanced by a floral aspect, like jasmine tea.

A pleasant quaff, with easygoing flavors of ripe cherry, sweet toasty oak and spice. Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignane.

Their inexpensive 42,000-case cuvée of 2012 Proprietary Red Avant is dominated by 60.4% Merlot, and the rest decreasing percentages of Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and miscellaneous grapes. Little new oak is used, about 11% total. The wine has a deep ruby/plum color, lots of sweet black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, dusty soil undertones, and a bit of pepper and spice. Ripe, medium-bodied, exuberant and fruity, it can be enjoyed over the next 1-2 years.

The 2007 Vintner's Reserve Summation Proprietary Red is a blend of 46% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot, all from estate vineyards. Soft and spicy with briery mountain fruit, licorice, herb, red and black fruit characteristics, this medium-bodied, lusty, soft 2008 can be drunk over the next 2-3 years. 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.

The first release in Canada of the Meritage comes with bits of olive, Band-Aid, spicy, earthy, tobacco, cassis and a slightly leafy, resin nose. Round, dry, slightly tight and hollow, with light tannins and some alcohol. Smoky, spicy, cassis, peppery, chocolate, resin, black olive flavours, with a bit of tobacco and coriander on the finish...

I did like the 2004 Vintner's Reserve Meritage, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. The wine exhibits medium body and good black cherry fruit intermixed with some cedar and loamy, earthy notes. The wine is soft, medium-bodied, and a stylish Californian take on a good Bordeaux. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.

Firm and and concentrated, with wild berry, violet, blackberry and plum flavors. Cedary overtones and solid tannins extend through a vibrant, lingering finish.

Ripe black cherry fruit is matched in intensity by mineral, loamy notes in the nose and flavors of this somewhat gruff Cabernet, and while the fruit holds up well against the pushy tannins, it is a bit dried out by the astringency of the finish. The wine might need a decade of patient cellaring to age out, but we suggest drinking it up in half that time rather than risking that is fruit begin to drop out.