The 2008 Pinot Noir Russian River displays loamy, earthy, sassafras and beet root vegetable notes as well as a distinctive spicy, herbal style. Medium-bodied with a more muscular/masculine style than the 2008 Los Carneros, the Russian River Pinot will benefit from another 6 months of bottle age and should last for 3-4 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

The excellent 2009 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is a crisp, elegant, fresh effort revealing notes of nectarines, honeyed citrus and zesty lemon rind in its medium-bodied, fresh, fragrant, pure personality. Representing elegance at its finest, it should drink well for several years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

The 2008 Grand Reserve Merlot (98% Merlot and the rest other Bordeaux varietals) offers notes of graphite, charcoal, plum sauce, black cherries, mocha and toast. This dense, structured, medium to full-bodied Merlot is approachable now, but is capable of lasting 7-8 years. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis à vis price for its wines.

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.

A new addition to the portfolio is the 2009 Vintner's Reserve Summation, an intriguing blend of 33% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Viognier, 15% Chardonnay and the rest Semillon, Roussanne, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Muscat Canelli, all largely fermented in stainless steel and neutral oak. It is a terrific perfumed, juicy white displaying a rainbow of tropical fruits in addition to crisp acids, medium body, a dry, flavorful mid-palate and lots of purity. This is a pleasure-giving, exciting, dry white that sells for a song. 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.

Abundant aromas of white peach, honeysuckle, green apple skins and a hint of tropical fruits jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, crisp, dry, fruity, well-made Chardonnay. It is a sensational bargain. 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.

Composed of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec aged 19 months in French oak (47% new), the 2008 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon displays an inky/purple color as well as abundant aromas of creme de cassis, camphor, tobacco leaf, licorice and background smoky oak. This rich, full-bodied Cabernet admirably showcases the potential for rich, layered, ageworthy Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma. It will benefit from another 1-2 years of bottle age and should keep for at least 12 years. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis à vis price for its wines.

Tasted from barrel, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Hills seemed more backward, tannic and unevolved. Jess Jackson likes his Cabernets to age a long time and therefore, almost all of them, even the low end cuvees, have plenty of structure and extract. This 2008 does not reveal the charm, opulence and intensity of the 2007, but there is a lot going on and it unquestionably has outstanding potential. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis à vis price for its wines.

Another new offering is K-J's 2009 Chardonnay Avant. One-hundred percent estate grown, it is a blend of 64% Monterey, 35% Santa Barbara and 1% Mendocino fruit. One-third is aged and fermented in stainless steel. The wine offers aromas of orange blossoms, white currants and white peaches in a fresh, fruity, medium-bodied, refreshing, Chablis-like style. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis à vis price for its wines.

...the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (from vineyards in Napa, Mendocino, Sonoma, Knight's Valley and Alexander Valley) is a soft, fruity effort with lots of herbaceously-tinged red and black fruits, plums and currants. This tasty Cabernet is best drunk over the next 4-5 years.

More crushed rock, herb, strawberry and spice box characteristics are found in the 2009 Pinot Noir Monterey. It exhibits a slightly deeper medium ruby hue than the Sonoma Coast cuvee along with medium body and additional structure and tannin. It should be even better with another 6-12 months of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

My least favorite of this trio, the 2009 Chardonnay Russian River is good, but leaner, earthier and not as expressive as its siblings. Consume it over the next 2-3 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

Notes of plum sauce, cranberries, earthy red cherries and loamy soil result in an authentic Pinot Noir tasting effort. Medium-bodied, soft and delicious, it should drink well for 2-4 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 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.

Another interesting offering as well as a reasonably good value is the 2007 All In Claret. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec from the Alexander Valley, it is an attractive wine to enjoy during its first 4-5 years of life.

The 2008 Vintner's Reserve Merlot (98% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc aged 14 months in two-thirds French and one-third American oak) exhibits a dark plum color along with notes of cherry cola, raspberry, garrigue, loamy soil and spice box. This medium-bodied, juicy Merlot is somewhat monolithic, but it displays an appropriate varietal character. Drink it 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 2008 Zinfandel Liar's Dice (primarily Zinfandel blended with small amounts of Carignane and Petite Sirah) is a medium ruby-hued, straightforward, peppery, herbal effort that should be enjoyed over the next 1-2 years.

A bright malbec with aromas and flavors of blackberry, black raspberry and spice. Soft, with a seamless texture. Lingering finish.

Granny Smith apple juice as wine, with a frame of softly rendered, barrel-touched ferment. A super mix of California's better regions in one white.

All of Byron's pinot noirs are outstanding, but we just enjoyed this version for its complexity and finesse. Exquisite cherry and perfumy aromas with cherry and plum flavors. Very nice.

This is stylish, with currants, blackberries, mulberries, and cool spices, with cloves developing in the glass. Full bodied, with super integrated tannins and a long, long finish. This is complex and integrated. A very beautiful wine. Why wait? Pull the cork.

Some jam but lots of spices and currants on the nose. Very stylish. Full bodied, with a beautiful purity of fruit and super silky tannins. Good acidity, very focused, and pinpointed flavors. A nice combination of richness and finesse.

Gorgeous nose with blueberries, currants, minerals, and hints of flowers. Full bodied, with very well integrated tannins and a long, long finish. This is very polished, balanced, and pretty right now, but give this time.

Very perfumed, with sweet tobacco and currant bush on the nose. Full bodied, with a silky tannin structure and a long finish. A little hollow in the center palate, but still attractive. Give it time to soften.

Aromas of green apple, pear, orange and vanilla. Aggressive flavors of tart green apple, lemon, lime, honey, cinnamon and clove with lingering background earthiness and creaminess.