This deep colored wine's immediate appeal lies in its spicey vibrant bouquet reminiscent of herbed-smoked meats. Full-bodied and nicely extracted, mint, olive, and black cherry flavors come into play on the palate. Black pepper jazzs up a velvety finish.

Delicious. Big, round mouth-feel with some sweet alcohol almost makes it taste like a merlot. Nicely done.

Ripe and peppery, with fresh plum and cherry-scented flavors that are focused and pure on the finish.

Winemaker Randy Ullum crafts this Zinfandel from grapes grown in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, aging the wine in 56% French oak. Tasters will enjoy aromas and flavors of plum, raspberry jam and blackberry with notes of cedar, baking spice and mineral.

Wines of the Week Vintner’s Reserve is the flagship line of wines from Kendall Jackson using grapes grown in cool coastal vineyards of California. This vintage offers distinct notes of spicy oak framing aromas and flavors of cherry and blackberry, finishing with firm tannins to pair with steaks from the grill or pastas with hearty sauces.

Here’s another authentic California Zinfandel coming from less heralded, but equally superb Mendocino County up the coast off Highway 101. Vineyards here are equally famous for Zinfandel with very old vines, and are dry farmed to produce intense, ripe fruit. As KJ winemaster Randy Ullom celebrates his 25 years with the brand, he comments on the wine’s “plum, raspberry jam and blackberry flavors, supported by chalky tannins – with sultry cedar and spice accents.”

Giving it Socks? No. Wine! 11 Man-tastic Wines for Dads on Father’s Day Subtle peppery oak cask aromas. Still very early in its development with the barrel aging dominant on the palate, like an oak craft sailing on a dark brooding sea. Food friend: requires a simple rich dark meat. Try duck breast wrapped with smoked rashers and roasted together with plums.

Wine review: bottles that pair well with vegetable dishes Soft, warming red wines pair well with root vegetables. This bottle from Kendall-Jackson has ripe purple fruit aromatics of plum and blueberry, and will taste great with roasted vegetables, especially tomatoes.

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.

The gritty tannins in this ripe zinfandel give the wine enough body to match the most sturdy meats. Plum and blackberry flavors with a dash of cedar.

A GREAT VINTAGE, 2013, and a top producer — Kendall-Jackson: Their Vintner’s Reserve Zinfandel from Mendocino County is amazing. K-J has grown exponentially since Jess Jackson pioneered this brand. Following his death in 2011, his wife, Barbara Banke, has steered a strong course. This $17 Zinfandel shows what a great year and great vineyards will produce. Jackson Family Wines, the parent company, has never slowed down.

As with many wines, the top zins are pricey. But I've recently tasted a number of good, easy-to-drink zins that are much less expensive...Also very good are Kendall-Jackson's 2013 Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel ($17) from Mendocino County, which is brambly and spicy, with bright berry...

Making great zinfandel requires winemakers to be dauntless. For true ripeness the fruit has to linger on the vine, but winemakers know the rains are coming so every day they delay the pick is a test of their resolve. Winemaster Randy Ullom and winemaker Fritz Meier are the steadfast duo behind our wine-of-the-week winner – the Kendall-Jackson, 2012 Vintner’s Reserve, Mendocino County Zinfandel at $17. This zin is layered with notes of blackberry, raspberry, and spice. It has an interesting underpinning of cedar and cracked black pepper, which makes it edgy.

Our Wine of the Week, Kendall-Jackson 2012 Vintner’s Reserve Mendocino County Zinfandel ($17), is big, bold and spicy, with layers of dark berry flavors woven through with sweet spices and accented by a toasty richness. The alcohol, 14.5 percent, is lower than a lot of contemporary California zinfandels, a quality that allows the flavors of the grape to fully emerge. If you’re used to high-alcohol zins, this one might seem a tad edgy, as high alcohol cushions the palate, dulling other flavors. Lovers of this varietal will call it feisty, a confident wine in touch with itself, you could say.

Dark color, aromas of red raspberries, flavors of black plums, full body, ripe tannins.

This wine hails from Jess Jackson’s original vineyard. Zinfandel likes the cool spring and short blast of summer heat followed by early fall. It gives structure to the wine. The 2011 vintage was a tough one for California — and they don’t have many of these. Early rains and cold temps gave winemakers fits. This Zin seems to have escaped unscathed. Fruit is bold and expressive, tannins are smooth, acidity gives the package structure. Think raspberry, blackberry, solid tannins and clove. It has 14 percent Petite Sirah added, which makes it even more serious with a much deeper color and black peppery notes.

...another good buy...So is the bright and spicy 2011 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel made from Mendocino County grapes.

A tasty zinfandel with ripe tannins and good acidity. Briary, with notes of blackberry, black cherry, herbs, spice and caramel.

Rich and sweet, with black cherry and mocha flavors, hearty and full bodied.

Round, cherry/berry fruit.

A snappy zin with notes of tart cherry, raspberry, blackberry herbs and black pepper. A hint of caramel. Spicy finish.

Rich and soft and fruit, with red raspberry flavors.

Temperate in ripeness, nicely rounded in fell and very generous in its straightforward, berryish fruit, this carefully made middle-weight might arguably wants for little more ambition, but its combination of cleanliness, fine balance and accessibilty makes it a frontrunner in terms of honest varietal value.

Restaurant buyers love to hate K-J. Consumers love it. So do critics. Value. Quality. Flavor. I have nothing but respect for the continuing excellence of this brand. The Zin is not a blockbuster, but who can drink a blockbuster all the time? Just give me a varietally correct wine that has body, balance and flavor. This Zin from various regions of Northern California, has intense plum, raspberry and blackberry aromas, with cedar and spice to make it more interesting. The palate has soft tannins and flavors so concentrated, it's like crushing the fruit in your mouth. Just pair it with a grilled steak or burger. For $13 full markup, it's a steal.