The least expensive of Kendall-Jackson's reserve bottlings, this very likeable wine presents plenty of up-front fruitiness trimmed with smoothing sweetness and a subtle touch of rich oak. Its note of sweetness is rather more persistent at the finish than are its impressions of fruit, and, while sure to be popular, the wine ultimately says less about Chardonnay that it does about pleasantly gulpable white wine.

[One of ] The top 100 wines of the year.

Here is 'serious' pinot in the sense that it has clearly been vinified for aging. Fine fruit is presently restrained behind oak with which it will eventually equilibrate as the evident tannins recede. A few years' cellaring could pay dividends and probably will, given the clear excellence of pinot fruit in the background just now. However, pulling the cork at present would hardly be a crime, especially if a lightly seasoned and perfectly roasted duck were on the table.

Deep ruby with saturated rim. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted and oaked. Quite tannic. Smoked meat, earth, currants. A hefty red with bold flavors and a dense, chewy structure. Shows excellent expression of secondary characteristics. Fine grained tannins rise up at mid-palate and linger through a firm, dry finish.

Edmeades is known for it delicious, fruity Zinfandels from Mendocino.

I have long been an enthusiastic fan of Kendall-Jackson's Grand Reserve Chardonnay and the 1994 is an outstanding wine. This 100% barrel-fermented Chardonnay is made in surprisingly large quantities (about45,000-50,000 cases), but there is no doubting its lavish display of tropical fruit, butter and spicy, toasty barrel aromas. This delicious wine is authoritatively rich and full-bodied, with low acidity. While it will not make old bones, it will drink well for 1-2 years.

For example, the 1995 chardonnay (900 cases) was made with 100% native yeast fermentation, put through full malolactic fermentation, completely barrel fermented, and aged in 75% new oak for nearly 18 months, and bottled without filtration. There was considerable stirring of the lees to encourage greater complexity and richness. It is an impressive, young, burgundian-styled chardonnay with a smoky, hazelnut, buttery popcorn, honeyed pineapple-scented nose and flavors, full body, great purity and ripeness, and a long, lusty finish. It could easily stand up to just about any Batard-Montrachet made in France, although I doubt it will be long-lived. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.

Rich purple. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted and oaked. Black cherries, plums, spicy tobacco. Displays lush aromas and fine viscosity in the mouth. Flavors are well concentrated with an underlying creamy component. Shows good grip in the finish, with lingering young fruit.

Rich ruby. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted and oaked. Coffee, herbs, black fruit. Shows good fruit on entry coupled with a subtle interesting spice note. A well oaked style overall, with a sturdy backbone and densely proportioned fruit.

Ruby. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted and oaked. Earth, black fruits, dried herbs. Unusual rustic nuances billow from the glass, but settle down with breathing time. Shows lively acidity and reasonable extraction of fruit. The finish is balanced and fairly firm.

Rich purple ruby. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted and oaked. Leather, currants, black cherries. This dense, chewy red features deep fruit meshed with a rather rich oak component. Finishes long. An attractive wine for drinking now or holding.

Ruby. Moderately full-bodied, extracted and oaked. Balanced acidity. Vanilla, pepper, black fruits. Firmly structured, with oaky aromas and a prominent spice component. Tannins rise up in the finish, suggesting a bit more cellaring time would be warranted.

Supple and harmonious, with a range of cherry, herb and olive flavors that linger. Drinks well now.

Purple. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted and oaked. Quite tannic. Black fruits, flowers, tar. Weighty on the tongue, with well integrated flavors and subtle, complex aromatics. Finishes firmly, but seems a bit closed at present.

From its very dark color to its dense, tannin-laced flavors, this impresses as a bigger, sturdier, tougher wine than Pinot Noir is wont to be. Its very rich, very ripe aromas are long on sweet oak, but, like the ensuing flavors, they are less than fruity in their basic mien. Fairly full in body, moderately astringent and eminently suited to service with heavier meat dishes, this brawny youngster demands at least a few years of quiet cellar time.

From its very dark color to its dense, tannin-laced flavors, this impresses as a bigger, sturdier, tougher wine than Pinot Noir is wont to be. Its very rich, very ripe aromas are long on sweet oak, but, like the ensuing flavors, they are less than fruity in their basic mien. Fairly full in body, moderately astrigent and eminently suited to service with heavier meat dishes, this brawny youngster demands at least a few years of quiet cellar time.

Yellow straw. Moderately full-bodied. Full acidity. Highly extracted. Moderately oaked. Citrus, vanilla, tropical fruits. Flavorful and well-balanced, with velvety mouthfeel and a lengthy, opulent finish.

The 1994 Sauvignon Blanc Grand Reserve is a beautifully made, honeyed, ripe, melony, medium-bodied wine with wonderful freshness and vitality, and a long finish touched gently by spicy wood. It is an attractive, rich, dry white for drinking over the next year.

This nicely-knit Chardonnay possesses a medium straw color, and plenty of spicy oak, which seems to frame the wine's sweet, tropical, buttery fruit. Medium-bodied, with crisp acidity, moderate levels of oak, and a short finish, this is a good Sonoma Chardonnay to drink over the next 12-18 months.

The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve is good rather than special. I wonder why? The wine offers some tobacco, herbs, and red curranty fruit in its modest nose. Medium-bodied, with a decent attach, it exhibits good concentration, attractive smoke/roasted herb-like flavors, an adequate finish, but a tart, compressed personality. If it cost $15 I might think about buying a bottle, but $42 is a grossly inflated price tag.

The 1994 Fume Blanc Vintner's Reserve is loaded with melony fruit. Crisp, fresh, and lively, it is ideal for drinking over the next year.

The fatter, more monolithic 1994 Semillon Vintner's Reserve offers a fleshy mouthful of wine. It would be ideal with grilled salmon.

Plush yet intense. A hint of barnyard in the aroma, but it works. Flavors are dense, hard to penetrate and the oak seems harsh.