Kendall-Jackson
Land use attorney Jess Stonestreet Jackson bottled his first Kendall-Jackson wine in 1982, and quickly garnered acclaim for the winery’s Chardonnays. Today, its vineyards comprise 14,000 coastal acres planted to a multitude of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, Syrah, Malbec, Muscat-Canelli, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. Jackson died of cancer in 2011, but the family business continues, encompassing many wine labels, such as Cambria, Stonestreet, Edmeades, La Crema, Cardinale, Lokoya, Hartford Family Winery, Vérité, Atalon, Carmel Road, Murphy-Goode, La Jota, Freemark Abbey, Byron Estates and Arrowood in the United States; Château Lassegue in France; Tenuta di Arceno in Italy; Yangarra in Australia; and Calina in Chile.
Kendall-Jackson 2005 Vintner’s Reserve Merlot
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- $19
A pretty good everyday Merlot, made from all-coastal grapes, not from the Central Valley. The cherry, blackberry and plum flavors are nice, the tannins are smooth, the wine is totally dry. The one negative is a sharp, minty green streak.
— S.H.
(8/1/2008)
Kendall-Jackson 2007 Rosé of Malbec (Napa County)
- $18
A crisply tart blush, made from this obscure Bordeaux variety. It has a silky clean mouthfeel, with pleasant, slightly sweet flavors of raspberries, cherries, figs and vanilla.
— S.H.
(11/15/2008)
Kendall-Jackson 2008 Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Mendocino County)
- Online Exclusive
- $20
A little too strong in feline spray character, but nicely dry and crisp, with citrus, gooseberry and vanilla flavors.
— S.H.
(9/1/2009)
Kendall-Jackson 2009 Vintner’s Reserve Riesling (Monterey County)
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- $12
This Riesling is slightly sweet, but it’s balanced by crisp acidity. The tangerine, green apple and peach flavors have a honeyed finish.
— S.H.
(12/31/2010)
Kendall-Jackson 2008 Jackson Estates Grown Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel (Mendocino County)
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- $16
An okay wine that’s light in color and aromatics, traceable in part to its cooler-climate heritage (95% of the grapes were grown in Mendocino, the rest in Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara), which does give it some subtly pleasing red fruit and spice notes. But 2008 was also for much of Mendocino a vintage from hell and this wine may in truth be reflecting that…
— V.B.
(2/1/2011)
Kendall-Jackson 2011 Vintner’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
- Online Exclusive
- $13
There’s a seemingly sweet edge to the lemon, lime and vanilla flavors, which are fortunately balanced with crisp acidity. Fans of richly styled white wines will like this bottling.
— S.H.
(12/1/2012)
Kendall-Jackson 2002 Vintner’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
- Online Exclusive
- $10
Nice and drinkable, a simple wine with slightly sweet flavors of citrus fruits and the acidity you expect from this varietal. It will go with almost anything, so don’t be too fussy.
— S.H.
(2/1/2004)
Kendall-Jackson 1998 Collage Red
- $9
Rustic, fruity stuff here, with bold fruity-spicy flavors. A galumphing wine that’s big and boisterous; nothing shy about it. A bit rough-edged, it needs meat and pasta and similarly uncomplicated foods to tame it.
— S.H.
(5/1/2001)
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