A superb effort is the 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Great Estates Buckeye Vineyard. Tannic and backward, it exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color as well as tobacco-tinged, cassis fruit intermixed with new oak and mineral. It is large-scaled, highly extracted, and while drinkable now, promises to evolve for 12-15 years.Tel. (800) 769-3649; Fax (707) 579-3419

Big mountain fruit here throws powerful aromas of ripe plum, thyme and bacon, while full-scale oaking yields maple aromas, vanilla flavors, and coffee on the finish. The wood element is a little weighty at this point, but there’s solid fruit to support it.——W.E.(11/1/2000)—— 90

The top of the Kendall-Jackson pyramid, in terms of both price and quality, are the single-vineyard offerings. All of these wines performed well. The excellent 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Buckeye Vineyard exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, followed by a sweet nose of cassis and smoky oak, and an excellent layered, supple, rich, concentrated palate with intense, ripe flavors. It should be the most approachable of all these single-vineyard wines, save for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Buckeye Vineyard.Tel. (800) 769-3649; Fax (707) 579-3419