Kenwood

Kenwood Vineyards is a Sonoma County winery, founded in 1970 at the site of the former Pagani Brothers Winery. In 1998, Gary Heck of Korbel Champagne Cellars became the sole owner of Kenwood Winery. Grapes are grown in a wide range of vineyards located throughout Sonoma County. Kenwood wines are derived from Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Zinfandel. The winery’s many bottlings include the Artist Series, Sonoma Series, Jack London and Reserve. Wine Enthusiast Magazine has awarded many Kenwood wines with the Editors’ Choice designation along with high ratings. Among those were Jack London and Artist Series Zinfandels, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Kenwood’s Pinot Noir. In reviewing Kenwood wines, Wine Enthusiast Magazine selected Kenwood’s 2005 Red Blend–Petite Sirah, Merlot and Sangiovese–as a Best Buy for its value.

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points

Kenwood 1997 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)

Price $75

From one of the largest and most highly touted vintages in a great decade, this is large and fairly fat. The cassis, fruitcake and menthol nose and sweet blackberry and chocolate palate aim to please…and do just that. It feels a bit low in acidity, making it lush and forward, displaying a bit of heat and a looser structure. Still, this pleasure package is young… — W.E. (4/1/2002)

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Kenwood 1995 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley)

Price $65

The lovely nose of rich briary fruit, licorice, vanilla cream and anise pulls you in to this luscious and lushly textured wine. It’s very smooth and suave on the tongue, offering deep cassis flavors and tobacco accents. Long and dry, the finish shows spicy oak, berries and espresso. Drink now-2008. — W.E. (4/1/2002)

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Kenwood 1997 Massara Vineyard Merlot (Sonoma Valley)

Price $25

Dark, oaky, and fine in every respect. Sonoma Valley, often underrated as Merlot country, lends the fruit a very deep and satisfying blackberry component, which is highlighted, in this case, by toasty oak. The tannins are soft and finely etched. Gorgeous stuff, quite lovely now, but the solid core of fruit indicates mid-term aging potential. — S.H. (2/1/2001)

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Kenwood 1994 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)

Price $75

A strong performance from a vintage considered among the best; this comes on and stays intense through the close. However, the wine’s scale caused some doubts to be registered about its balance—it’s pretty hot, and high in alcohol. Still, few argued with the toast, dark berry and licorice nose, the dark spicy-sweet flavors or rich, even mouthfeel. Closes long and a… — W.E. (4/1/2002)

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Kenwood 2006 Jack London Vineyard Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $25

This Zin shows classic Sonoma County character, but it’s also a tannic, young wine that wants a little time in the bottle. Tasted at the age of two, it’s astringent and jammy, with pepper-infused blackberry and mulberry flavors and a gamy touch of smoked beef. Give it until mid-2009, when it will be fantastic with grilled beef. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

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Kenwood 2004 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)

Price $70

With this wine, Kenwood is seriously poaching on Napa Valley cult Cab territory. Shows powerful, intense chocolate, blackberry pie filling and smoky new oak flavors wrapped into soft but complex tannins. Yes, the alcohol is high, but the wine is dry and frankly delicious. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

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Kenwood 1997 Jack London Vyd Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley)

Price $35

Some coffee and cola aromas add excitement to the otherwise black-fruit nose. The big cassis and plum flavors on the palate are rich enough to elicit tastes and textures of chocolate. A very pleasurable drink-me-now wine, with a fine bitterness to the finish. — W.E. (11/1/2000)

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Kenwood 1996 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)

Price $70

Weighty and supple, this continues the strong mid-90s run with its dark fruit, toast and herb nose. There’s a touch of sweet sur-maturité (overripeness) here, but there’s tangy acidity, too, to keep it together. It’s deep and sweet, with blackberry, chocolate and herb flavors and a lengthy, smooth black pepper and anise-tinged finish. Drink now–2007, probably… — W.E. (4/1/2002)

Most Reviewed Designations

Artist Series Jack London Vineyard Mazzoni Nuns Canyon Pinot Noir Rosé Red Table Wine Reserve Reserve Massara Reserve Mazzoni Vineyard Reserve Olivet Table Wine

Most Reviewed Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Gewürztraminer Merlot Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Red Blend Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Syrah White Blend Zinfandel

2010 Pence Ranch Westslope

This is sourced from the winery's steepest and most wind-exposed blocks…

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