Other Syrah(s) that offer a lot of flavor for the money include the 2001 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve.

Also very good is the 2001 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Syrah, which is fruity up from with a tannic kick and a hint of white pepper on the finish.

Spicy and blunt, this medium-to full-bodied Syrah can age several years.

Another very good value, produced primarily from North Coast and Central Coast fruit. Deep ruby-colored with a purple hue, it offers sweet black currant and berry fruit along with hints of smoke and licorice in a medium-bodied, soft, supple style.

One cannot help but be impressed by this wine's keen focus on ripe blackberries and its solid structure. It is fairly viscous but not heavy on palate, and its somewhat brusque tannins are within reasonable expectations for the variety.

This is an excellent value because it delivers lots of fruit from California's coastal vineyards. Forward blackberry and cassis flavors with a racy and oaky finish.

Rich cherry and blackberry fruit flavors, with notes of leather and licorice.

Thinly fit with a bit of mild, cherryish fruit, this firm, unexpansive offering is underlain by stiff acidity, a note of stemmy bitterness and a touch of black-tea astringency. Always clean, but never rounded in the manner of first-rate Merlot, it makes no promise to grow into better but does have at least the minimum of fruit to hold up well for a few years yet.

Complex and bright. Tart, with soft cherry sweet fruit. Notes of plum, bell pepper, cocoa and cedar.

Medium-full body. Dry. Smoky oak, blackberry and spice aromas; go0d mouth-feel, layered fruit, bright and juicy flavors; long balanced finish.

dry, medium-bodied, medium tannin, medium acidity; Strawberry, blackberry, green pepper flavors. Simple but serviceable.

KJ's high-volume Merlot is a soft and easy-going offering that brings together elements of cherries, tea and a bit of oak, yet it is always limited in depth and real varietal expression. Medium-bodied and a bit wanting in energy, it is one for unceremonious drinking in the near future.

Dry and gamy, with intense leathery flavors; tannic and earthy, with herb, tobacco and modest dried berry and currant flavors.

Bright, dark red. Lively aromas of cherry, currant, raspberry, tobacco and shoe polish. Bright, dense and layered with good ripeness and balance for the vintage. Finishes with suave, building tannins and very good persistence.

Plums and black fruits on the nose are rich and full bodied, buffered by a good dose of vanilla. This merlot is immediately likable but has a weight and grip on the mid palate, in addition to a supple and well rounded finish. Finally, a merlot that does not disappoint.

Possessed of well-ripened black cherry fruit in the nose, the wine simply does not avoid the green, herbal potential of the variety and winds up a bit at odds with itself both here and in its ripe, herb-tinged yet somewhat abbreviated flavors. Heat and gripping tannins rise at the end.

We were pleasantly surprised with this opulent, well-structured Merlot that draws juice from Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Carneros. Ripe berry aromas with dense, rich blackberry and cherry flavors and a touch of vanillin oak. One of the better made Merlots on the market.

Dark red. Aromas of raspberry, cherry, bitter chocolate, smoke, tar and earth. Supple, sweet and ripe, with nicely defined red fruit flavors. Finishes with dusty but essentially sweet tannins.

An authentic tasting, light to meduim-bodied, soft Merlot offering aromas and flavors of cherries, herbs, earth, and berry fruit.

Lean, with a strong toasted oak shade to the tart cherry, currant and herb flavors. Finishes lean, but the tannins are balanced, not drying.

A simple, varietally true merlot, its meaty cherry fruit and round, supple texture make it easy to enjoy.

Mild, clean, fruity and pleasant, the aromas show neither depth nor focus. Perfectly pleasant in the mouth and fairly fruity, this is a useful, drinkable Merlot…

"Smoky oak scents push forward over moderately fruity tones…

Ripe fruit, soft blackberry and plum. A touch tart, some harsh oak. Undertones of vanilla.

Firm in structure, featuring red currant, toasted oak and herb flavors, finishing lean.