Probably the best they have made to date, the 2007 Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits an exuberance, richness, and intensity that belie a production of 155,000 cases. Coming entirely from Jess Jackson’s vineyards, the final blend – 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot – is sourced primarily from Sonoma and Napa, with a small percentage from Mendocino. This wine is a beauty, with ripe berry fruit, as well as hints of cedarwood, tobacco leaf, licorice, and plenty of black currants and black cherries. This wine should drink nicely for 5-6 years, possibly even longer. The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner’s Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.Tel. (800) 769-3649; kjwines@kj.com

A solid Cabernet, dry and full bodied, that shows the structure and flavors of more expensive bottlings. Rich in blackberries, currants and cedar, with hints of coffee and toffee and a touch of new oak. ——S.H.(6/1/2010)—— 87