Kendall Jackson, Grand Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County

Brought to tasting with a "back up" bottle available as I was not sure there would be much left of this wine I acquired in a trade. I was wrong. Getting old but still something left! Pepper and mild darker fruit. All is integrated. Soft, silt, older bordeaux mouthfeel. Medium body. Moderate finish but all components were there. Drink up. Does not have much longer.

A beautiful wine. Allowed to air for five minutes. Aroma was dry and fruity. Noted flavors; plum ripe bing cherries. Tannins were smooth and very well balanced. Wish I had more. Definitely in the drinkable age now.

Oaky notes of this wine are fantastic and the flavor is our favorite! Great with a good cheese.

Smooth, fruity and harmonious. Fruity nose, with blackcurrants, blaclberries, plums and a bit of licorice; the flavors are a bit redder, with rich, tangy berries, cherries and red plums, a darker undercurrant (chocolate), a touch of funk, a savory leather note, and very nice, well-integrated tannins for structure; decent finish, with black cherries, then tobacco at the very end. I've tended to avoid K-J in the past, but the "reserve" wines are really pretty nice and very good values.

Dark color. Lots of plums. Some oak. Very pleasant overall.

Sonoma in the City Tasting: 220 wines tasted from 72 producers (Westin St. Francis Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, California) : Rich plum, black fruit nose; rich plum, rich black fruit palate; medium-plus finish 88+ points