KJ Partners with Make-A-Wish Foundation

With each purchase of Kendall-Jackson' Vintner's Reserve, Collage® or Yangarra Park, Kendall-Jackson's estate winery in Australia, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada.  This special partnership promotion is valid in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario and runs from October 1 to December 30.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the largest wish-granting foundation worldwide, with eight chapters in Canada.  The organization began a little more than two decades ago in the United States, evolving over time to include 27 international affiliates granting more than 110,000 wishes worldwide.  The Canadian Foundation began in British Columbia in 1983 and overall, has granted over 1,600 wishes to children aged 3-17 with life-threatening illnesses.  For complete information, visit: 

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates produces a quality-focused portfolio of premium wines crafted from hillside and coastal growing regions in California, Chile, and Australia.  Along with Kendall-Jackson, which features Collage, Vintner's Reserve®, Grand Reserve®, Great Estates® and Stature® wines, KJWE offers Camelot and Pepi brands with California appellations, Sonoma County's La Crema wines, Edmeades from Mendocino's Anderson Valley, Yangarra Park from Australia, and Calina from Chile.

Visit Kendall-Jackson on the Web at www.kj.com

Gismondi On Wine Recommends:

Kendall Jackson

87/100 Kendall-Jackson Sauvignon Blanc Vintner's Reserve 2001
California, United States
Ripe melon, grapefruit, kiwi aromas with a touch of grass. Round and fresh with canned grapefruit, melon, mineral and passion fruit flavours. Good fruit and balance with nice acidity although the finish is a bit sweet but a very solid style for restaurants and the regular consumer.
Tasted: 2003-06-09 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $20.95 Specialty
CSPC: 349647;   UPC: 081584130406
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

87/100 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve 1999
California, United States
The '00 KJ cab comes of a mix of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino vineyards. It's less generous than previous additions showing black olive, green bean and herbal aromas with earthy coffee undertones. There are fairly dense fruit flavours and fullness in the mouth but with some acidity poking through. The finish is somewhat dry leading us to believe if you were to taste it blind you might mistake it for an Italian sangiovese cabernet blend.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $26.95 Specialty
CSPC: 427153;   UPC: 081584013174
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
88/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2001
California, United States
Lovely open mineral and spicy lees nose with streaks of smoky apple. Rich flavourful entry with nutty juicy apple flavours and a dollop of K-J oak. It's not as fat or oaky as it smells which is a good thing. It finishes a bit chalky and buttery but not too oaky. Good intensity of flavours.
Tasted: 2003-04-13 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $25.95 Specialty
CSPC: 296566;   UPC: 081584013105
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
89/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Grand Reserve 2001
California, United States
Lovely open ripe peach, melon, butter vanilla aromas streaked with citrus and mango. Ripe but elegant with a bit skinnier, crisper palate. Creamy vanilla lees, buttery peach, melon and mango flavours melt into its delicious spicy finish. Crisp, clean and creamy with just a touch of heat in the aftertaste. Fruit sources are a who's who of California wine regions: 40 Monterey County, 35 Santa Maria Valley, 8 Santa Barbara County, 8 Sonoma-Carneros and 4 Russian River Valley.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $37.99 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $45.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
87/100 Kendall-Jackson Merlot Grand Reserve 1999
California, United States
The "California" is a blend of fruit form Anderson Valley 31; Alexander Valley 28; Napa Valley 25; Russian River Valley 8; Monterey 5; and Sonoma 3. Look for tobacco, earthy, peppery, leafy aromas with light resiny, cherry notes. It's somewhat lean and dry with angular tannins at this stage. It's spicy peppery, herbal, cherry vanilla flavours finish with a touch of clove. It's a bit too hard for current drinking; we suggest another year or two of bottle ageing to soften up the tannins.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $52.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $66.95 Speculative - Rennaisance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
94/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Great Estates Arroyo Seco 2000
Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United States
The heart of this wine is the Dijon and Rued Chardonnay clones that spend 10 months in 100 per cent French oak of which 34 per cent is new. Floral, citrus, honey, baked apple, vanilla cream and mineral aromas waft out of the glass. Ripe and round with big spicy, citrus, floral, mango, peaches and cream flavours and a creamy, vanilla orange finish. Elegant, crisp and long with a spicy, lees aftertaste. Very stylish.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $61.99; BC $69.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

92/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Great Estates Sonoma Coast 2000
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United States
Primarily Sonoma Carneros, Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley fruit gives this stylish chardonnay a citrus/baked apple, melon, peach and spicy vanilla lees nose. Similar ripe flavours with more baked apple, spicy, creamy vanilla and lees flavours with a peach, mineral, citrus finish. Quite a creamy, oily texture with better balance, less apparent alcohol and better acidity balance than the Grand Reserve. Another fine effort from winemaker Randy Ullom's team.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $46.99; BC $54.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

88/100 Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Great Estates Monterey 2000
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United States
This wine comes out of Clark Vineyard in Monterey. Look for cherry jam, spice, vanilla and forest floor aromas with just a touch of barnyard compost. Soft, round and supple the plum, licorice, spicy vanilla flavours are well balanced with a touch of acidity. A simple but well made pinot.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $46.99; BC $62.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

91/100 Kendall-Jackson Merlot Great Estates 1999
Sonoma County, California, United States
Vibrant spicy olive and cherry aromas flecked with game and vanilla. It is ripe, rich and moderately tannic on the palate with more spice, green olive, pepper, black cherry and orange peel flavours. Quite long and warm with a resiny, herbal finish. Fine structure here but again another two to three years is required to soften up the tannins. Excellent potential for collectors.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $65.99; BC $75.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
91/100 Kendall-Jackson Zinfandel Great Estates Mendocino County 2000
Mendocino County, California, United States
Blackberry, spicy, black cherry jam aromas mixed with pepper, licorice, vanilla and roasted pepper. Intense blackberry, black cherry jam, pepper, spicy flavours. Elegant styling and tannins considering its 15.5% alcohol level and plenty of intense fruit and pepper in the finish. Well made with 91/4/2/1.5 zinfandel/petite sirah/grenache/carignane/other varieties primarily out of the Redwood Valley and Highlands of Mendocino.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $47.99; BC $52.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

89/100 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 1999
California, United States
An unusual mix of 70 per cent Napa fruit (21 per cent coming out of Rutherford) and 30 per cent Sonoma County (17 per cent Dry Creek Valley and 13 per cent Alexander Valley) all of which spends 20 months in small mostly French oak which is about one third new. Look for a big, spicy, tarry, vanilla and berry jam nose. It's moderately rich and ripe with round but dry tannins, spicy, cassis jam, tarry, blackberry flavours and a peppery, vanilla finish. Good fruit and balance with quite young tannins. It needs another two plus years before optimal drinking.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $51.99; BC $66.95 Speculative - Renaissance; ON $54.00
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

94/100 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Great Estates Napa Valley 1999
Napa Valley, California, United States
Peppery, blackberry jam aromas with dark earth, leather, vanilla, coffee, and mulberry scents. Ripe and big with round balanced tannins. Again, big peppery, blackberry jam, spicy, clove, vanilla leather and earth flavours and a long creamy vanilla/coffee finish. Big and young and will need at least 3-5 years to approach maturity. Excellent wine. All Napa (and mostly Rutherford) fruit in 91 per cent French oak.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $74.99; BC $85.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

92/100 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Great Estates Alexander Valley 1999
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States
An all Sonoma affair (87/13) from Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley and almost exclusively aged in French oak. Expect an attractive spicy, sweaty saddle leather, peppery nose flecked with tar, black berry jam, licorice, earth and tobacco aromas. Fine complexity on the palate along with excellent concentration and balance. The taste is of cassis and blackberry jam flavours with a vanilla, coffee, clove, leather aftertaste. Young tannins with some hardness and acidity to dissipate; three to five years should do it. Fine effort.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $66.99; BC $79.95 Speculative - Renaissance
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

95/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Stature 2000
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United States
Big mango, pineapple, toasted, smoky lees aromas with honey, marmalade and citrus scents. Very rich, round and oily yet well balanced on the palate. Expect intense baked apple, spicy lees, creamy mango, citrus and honey flavours. Very long with good acidity, a top quality chardonnay for those who like intensity and we do. Sensational bottle of wine.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices:
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
90/100 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Camelot Bench 2001
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United States
Ripe apple, spicy, buttery, mango aromas with honey and toasted lees notes. Round entry with elegant styling and fine acidity. Similar big apple, spicy lees, vanilla and honey flavours with a touch of mango on the finish. Love the structure and finesse.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices:
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and Winery
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

Calina

92/100 Calina Bravura 1999
Chile
A blend of 71 percent cabernet sauvignon and 29 percent merlot, the 1999 vintage Bravura is sourced from the Itata, Maule and Colchagua Valleys and , blended in a style that Winemaker Andres Sanchez Westhoft likens to "bringing three brothers born in different places together again as a family." Look for a spicy peppery, saddle leather, prune scented nose with resiny, cassis jam and minty aromas. Rich, round and balanced with soft, supple tannins. Very spicy, peppery, blackberry jam, earth flavours. Smooth black cherry, smoky vanilla coffee aftertaste with some herbal minty notes. Very polished but finishes somewhat alcoholic. The wood is 100 per cent French and between 30 and 35 per cent new each year. Drink now through 2006. 250 cases made.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $50.95; BC $56.95 Speculative - Renaissance
UPC: 710886001137
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
87/100 Calina Carmenère Reserve 2001
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
Ripe carmenère, and we emphasize ripe, continues to attract red wine drinkers in droves. The Calina carmenère has a touch of herbal minty and spice on the nose with some bell peppers and olives but its round spicy coffee and mocha flavoured fruit is a winner on the palate. The finish is suitably long with vanilla and cherry highlights.
Tasted: 2002-11-16 by AG
Prices: BC $18.99 Specialty
UPC: 710886001854
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
86/100 Calina Merlot Reserve 2001
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
The Calina merlot boasts plenty of minty, herbal notes on the nose but in the mouth the fruit is riper and richer. The flavours are a mix of plums and cherries with a dash of spice and mocha. Soft tannins and round textures will make this a favourite for home entertaining.
Tasted: 2002-11-16 by AG
Prices: BC $16.95 Specialty
CSPC: 528224;   UPC: 710886001700
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
85/100 Calina Chardonnay Reserve 2000
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
The Calina Chardonnay has a "reserve" designation although it means nothing in Chile. The fruit is blend of two relatively cool climate appellations: Casablanca and Limari. On the nose look for citrus and mineral notes while on the palate nutty/buttery, apple/pear fruit dominates. The finish is soft and creamy. Drink now.
Tasted: 2002-11-16 by AG
Prices: BC $16.95 Specialty
CSPC: 527879;   UPC: 710886000062
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
86/100 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2000
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
Rootsy earthy peppery. Rounder softer entry less concentration than the 99 but more pleasant drinking. Round supple soft finish with a fruity blackberry character.
Tasted: 2002-11-12 by AG
Prices: BC $16.95 Specialty
CSPC: 531079;   UPC: 710886000055
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
86/100 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Chile
Open spicy peppery nose with excellent dark coloured fruit. Floral spicy peppery fruit with a dry earthy finish. Serve with grilled meats to temper the tannins.
Tasted: 2002-11-12 by AG
Prices: BC $16.95 Specialty
CSPC: 531079;   UPC: 710886000055
Producer: Las Viñas de la Calina Ltda.
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

Yangarra Park

90/100 Yangarra Park Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation Series 2001
Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia
Look for an earthy, cool coffee, licorice, peppery, cassis and minty nose. It's round and dry with slightly lean tannins and more spicy, vanilla, coffee, licorice and tea flavours. It's improved in the bottle since we first tasted it earlier this spring -- a more or less normal development for most Coonawarra cabernets. Patience and/or a big T-bone steak is required here.
Tasted: 2003-06-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $24.95 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $29.95 Speculative - Rennaisance
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

91/100 Yangarra Park Shiraz Appellation Series 2001
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
Ripe cherry, blackberry jam with smoky, bacon aromas and a peppery undercurrent. Rich, round and supple textures with spicy, vanilla, clove and blackberry jam flavours and a peppery, creamy cola finish. Quite unctuous, warm and balanced with a touch of acidity and freshness. Attractive style for near term consumption.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $24.95 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $29.95 Speculative - Rennaisance
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants
 
88/100 Yangarra Park Merlot Appellation Series 2001
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
This is quite a fine effort from an Oz grape that rarely shines. Coffee, herbal, mint and tobacco aromas are flecked with some cherry and pepper. The palate is round and supple with spicy, vanilla, peppery cherry flavours and a leafy, minty finish. It's a bit dry and acidic on the finish and there's still quite a bit of oak showing. Another three years should help this wine gather itself for prime time.
Tasted: 2003-02-18 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $24.95 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $29.95 Speculative - Rennaisance
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

87/100 Yangarra Park Shiraz 2001
South Eastern Australia, Australia
Good varietal character with pepper, spicy, sweaty leather, prunes plum and sausage aromas. Soft, round and juicy with cherry, plum jam, spicy vanilla flavours and a cola, peppery finish. Good all-round wine by the glass for restaurants.
Tasted: 2002-11-06 by AG
Prices: AB $14.95; BC $17.95 Specialty
CSPC: 625574;   UPC: 784938000638
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

87/100 Yangarra Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
South Eastern Australia, Australia
Pencil lead, sweaty leather, cassis, green olive, pepper and spice aromas. Dry, somewhat tight structure with cassis, green olive, pepper and spice flavours. A bit tart and slightly tannic at this stage, try with grilled meats or age a year in bottle.
Tasted: 2002-11-06 by AG
Prices: AB $14.95; BC $17.95 Specialty
CSPC: 625590;   UPC: 784938000652
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants

87/100 Yangarra Park Chardonnay 2001
South Eastern Australia, Australia
Mineral, pear, apple, melon with restrained buttery notes. Round, soft and elegant with buttery, melon, peach and lees flavours with a touch of baked apple and citrus in the finish. Nice flavours in a forward, softer style for current drinking.
Tasted: 2002-11-06 by AG
Prices: AB $14.45 Specialty; BC $16.95 Specialty
CSPC: 625608;   UPC: 784938000645
Producer: Yangarra Park
Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants