A remarkable value, the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Vintner's Reserve, which is essentially 95% Sauvignon and the rest Semillon and Sauvignon Musqué. Almost all of this is fermented in stainless steel, and the wine offers the classic melony, fig, and lemon grass of Sauvignon. It is dry, medium-bodied, and aromatic.

The 2005 Grand Reserve Chardonnay is a lighter-bodied, creamy textured selection with apple flavors, butterscotch notes and a hint of coconut on the finish.

For a good 25 years, this has been the gold standard for value-priced Chardonnay. Yes, you can crab at me for that statement, but its commercial availability, and its competitive price sometimes blur people's vision regarding this wine, but the palate tells it all - - it's an excellent Chardonnay. The nose has that apple-pear tango going on, with the butterscotch of toasted oak; and the palate is sweet and tart at the same time. Flavors have real punch, with lime zest, orange and minerality to punctuate the sweet apple-pear-nectarine fruit.

Kendall-Jackson's Grand Reserve line of wines, a level above its basic Vintner's Reserve, come exclusively from grapes grown in KJ vineyards as opposed to purchased grapes. Considerably classier than its very good 2004 Vintner's Reserve Merlot, it has more going on in it all around, from more engaging aromatics, layers of flavors and a haunting finish. The oak aging enhances rather than overwhelms. Beautifully balanced, its bright cherry acidity enlivens the wine. Open it side-by-side with the 2004 Vintner's Reserve and decide for yourself whether its worthy of the extra money.

Collectible gift wine! A Customer - New York Right up there with the 1st Growths - Lafite, Latour, Margaux, etc. And at a fraction of their cost :) A Customer - San Francisco, CA Opulent, rich, delicious. A Customer - San Antonio, TX Tried blind next to Opus One - it blew it out of the water. I rated the Opus 91, this was a solid 95+ pointer in my book. A Customer - Seattle, WA Great stuff - try with rack of lamb, match made in heaven. A Customer - Naples, FL Extremely good value in Grand Cru Bordeaux. Tastes like many $100+ bottles I've tried in the last year. A Customer - Boston, MA Received this as part of my Build Your Cellar wine club shipment - all I can says is WOW. What an incredible bottle of Bordeaux.

Vibrant blackcurrants, exotic spice overlay; juicy black fruits, lovely fresh acidity, gentle tannins, long, fresh finish. Very pretty. Up to 2 years.

16.2/20 points Herbal notes, red fruits, minerality. Typical Chianti-red currants and cranberry, lively acidity and minerality. Elegant-yum! Drink now or age up to 8 years.

A rich, creamy chardonnay. Aromas and flavors of pear, apple, melon and spice. Silky finish.

...is an elegant composition of dried cherry, currants, pomegranate, cranberry, and leather.

...offers a silky elixir of blueberry and blackberry fruit spice with lavender, rosemary and cocoa.

Perhaps the most seductive of the wines in this collection is the 2004 Taylor Peak Merlot which comes from the cool Bennett Valley. The wine manifests an earthy amalgam of sassafras spice and dark chocolate wrapped in velvety tannins - quite a departure from most pure Merlot, which can sometimes prove overly fruity and lacking in structure. This special character derives from the vines, which are made from Pétrus clones brought from France by Vérité winemaker Pierre Seillan - legally, the idealist Jackson reminds us on a practical note.

...this '05 has the benefit of rich tannins and well-ripened cherry-berry fruit...

Of the three Highland Estates Cabernet Sauvignons, the 2004 Trace Ridge is the softest, full of blueberry with hints of coffee and coriander.

The 2004 Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet is a spicier blend of plum, boysenberry, and tobacco.

The 2004 Napa Mountain from Mt. Veeder in Napa Valley, with its massive tannic structure, is the most powerful of the lot, redolent of blackberry, cassis, violets, and wet granite.

Look for fresh mango, honey and pineapple nuances with a brushing of oak and cool, mineral, citrus and peach flavours. A terrific holiday party wine.

...from the Arroyo Seco region near Monterey, which offers a buttery mouthful of pear, banana, and custard with a touch of spearmint.

The 2005 La Joie is rocking, and if La Muse was closed and dominated by tannin at my tasting, the La Joie was strutting its considerable potential. A blend of 66.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.7% Merlot, and 12.3% Cabernet Franc as well as some Petit Verdot and Malbec, this is a wine with a dense ruby/purple color, a glorious nose of lead pencil shavings intermixed with cedar wood, black currant liqueur, espresso roast, and chocolate. It also possesses huge amounts of fruit and tannins. The tannins are elevated, but the wine is so enormously endowed, I don’t think there’s a doubt that it will come together brilliantly, as everything seems to be in proper proportion. This a colossal/compelling proprietary red wine that should be at its prime in about 2015 and last for 30+ years.

Absolutely astounding is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder. Bluish/black to the rim, with a gorgeous nose of creosote, incense, creme de cassis, blackberry, violets, espresso roast, and perhaps a hint of underlying chocolate, this is fabulously textured, low in acidity, high in tannin, but so, so rich, layered, and enthralling. This is a prodigious young Cabernet Sauvignon that should be at its best between 2013 and 2035. Four absolutely stunning Cabernet Sauvignons from winemaker Chris Carpenter, these are the creme de le creme of some of the Jess Jackson-owned Napa vineyards. All mountain sites, all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all unfined and unfiltered - and all four are of irrefutably great quality. The case productions are relatively limited, from a very small 120-cases from the Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain sites to nearly 800 cases of Mt. Veeder. They all share several things in common - great ripeness, great texture, and fabulous aging potential.