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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reservetext
90POINTS
16½/20

Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2020

California, United StatesThe wine that Randy Ullom made famous continues to amaze as the largest selling estate-grown chardonnay in America. Ullom has made subtle tweaks to the wine over the last decade, tightening the structure, restraining the fruit and oak in favour of a livelier palate, and keeping the brand's millions of fans happy. It all begins with some impressive fruit sourcing up and down the Golden State's coolest hillside vineyards influenced by the Pacific Ocean from Mendocino to Santa Barbara. The fruit is whole-cluster-pressed and kept in small vineyard lots throughout the winemaking process, barrel fermented, and sur lie aged with monthly bâttonage. A citrus undercurrent supports silky, creamy tropical fruit with a lime butter finish. Impressive for the price and quantity produced. 2020 was aged six months in French (4.5% new) and American oak (6.5% new). The alcohol is 13.5%, and the sourcing is 54% Monterey County, 25% Mendocino County, 20.5% Santa Barbara County, and .5% Sonoma County.Tasted: 04 March 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$24.99750mlBCLS
AB$19.99750mlselect private retailers
ON$21.95750mlLCBO
MB$19.00750ml 
QC$19.05750mlSAQ
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyards and WineryDistributors: Summit Fine Wines
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 296566UPC: 081584013105