Bold red and black fruit, spice, sturdy acidity, supple tannins - this baby fires on all cylinders. It's a blend of mostly Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot, with some Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and other varieties. The fruit is lush and rich, woven with spice and alcohol and wood. Winemaster Randy Ullom writes that it brings a smile to your face - that was my thought exactly.

This blend leads with feisty black cherry, followed by raspberry and a kick of cracked black pepper. It's tasty, bold and approachable. Tangy finish. A nice, less expensive option.

2013 Avant Red Blend by Kendall-Jackson, Calif. (50 percent merlot, 22 percent syrah, 9 percent cabernet sauvignon, 9 percent malbec, 7 percent petite sirah, 3 percent carignan and others): soft and smooth, with aromas and flavors of red raspberries and milk chocolate.

Let’s Talk Wine: Enjoying red, red wine blends Together syrah, cabernet sauvignon and malbec with a solid base of merlot. Soft tannins with layers of plum, raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate, and hints of vanilla and chocolate, combine to create a wine that is smooth and fruit-forward.

California is this bottle's origin, with grapes from five counties — half merlot, 22 percent syrah, and smaller amounts of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petite sirah, carignan and other. I promise you, those are grapes. This wine has plum, raspberry, licorice and a hint of spice.

2013 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Summation Red Wine Blend (44 percent syrah, 25 percent zinfandel, 20 percent merlot, 6 percent petite sirah, 3 percent cabernet sauvignon, 1 percent grenache, 1 percent other varietals): dark red hue, big and spicy and lush, with aromas and flavors of black plums and dark chocolate, soft tannins.

Try these selections if your post-holidays wallet is a bit light From the brand started in 1983, Kendall-Jackson has grown into one of the world's larger family-owned wine companies. The Vintner's Reserve line remains the company's backbone.

Let’s Talk Wine: Enjoying red, red wine blends A lovely fruit-forward complex wine has spiciness from the zinfandel, dark and red fruit tones from the syrah, a kiss of chocolate from merlot, and sumptuous tannins from the petite sirah and grenache grapes.

This easy-drinking, well-made red is a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Malbec. It has all the hallmarks of a dry red without hammering the dryness. It’s off-dry, but the tannins and acidity hold the package together for those who prefer dry. Flavors: Think strawberry, raspberry, ripe plum and dark chocolate. This is an introductory dry red that far surpasses what many other brands are doing.

Hint of oak, aromas and flavors of red raspberries, bittersweet chocolate and cloves, smooth finish.

This new brand from the massive Kendall-Jackson wine empire is a worthy choice in the middling price range. K-J wines may not thrill elite critics, but their quality is very consistent and the wines are widely available. This smooth, penetrating wine is a skillful blend of red grapes that yields lush flavors of raspberry, black cherry, chocolate and spices. In French, Avant means forward and that's a good description of this wine's style. It's for now, not later.

Fruity, with aromas and flavors of black cherries and milk chocolate, rich and smooth.

This is K-J’s affordable red wine blend, the genre that is so popular right now. The 2010 vintage is a knockout — a blend of almost equal parts Syrah and Zinfandel, backed up with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah — no doubt a recipe that changes with every vintage. It’s a layered, structured dry red with a personality of black cherry, raspberry, dark chocolate, black pepper, dark plum, cranberry and herbal, leathery notes. It finishes dry and herbal.

A tasty blend with layered flavors. Notes of pomegranate, bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Balanced. Nice length.

A nice agreeable blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and zinfandel. Very smooth with cherry flavors in a balanced oak frame. Good value

This blend of zinfandel, grenache, syrah, merlot and other red varietals is a very pleasant experience. There's the power and earthiness of the zin, the broad shoulders of the syrah, the exuberant fruit of the grenache and the soft elegance of the merlot. The cherry and blackberry flavors are intense and penetrating but not harsh. It goes to show that while soil is crucial, the winemaker's skill is important too.

Like the final statement in a trial, wine master Randy Ullom says this wine is the study and final blending of red varietals. It's dark, rich and smooth, with flavors of blackberries and mocha.

This red wine blend offers impressive complexity for the price and is widely distributed by K-J, which may lack in snob factor but makes quite reliable wines. The winery calls this wine a renegade because the blend includes both Bordeaux varieties and other grapes, including zinfandel, syrah and petite sirah. I'm not sure that makes it all that revolutionary - California produces lots of offbeat blends - but it's very tasty. It offers pure, penetrating black cherry, black currant and herb flavors and is smooth, balanced and ready to drink.

...black cherries and milk chocolate, very rich and smooth, with soft tannins.

There are at least six grape varieties from four counties that go into this eclectic blend, although about half of the wine is merlot. With that motley collection, it is defined by location, terroir or even grape variety. But it does have some nice flavors: cherry, currants, chocolate and mocha.