2007 Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner’s Reserve
I was inspired by reading the latest edition of PinotFile to try more California pinot noir as a sort of New Year’s resolution 😉 Not that we’d have to do anything that formal really, as we were bound to drink more pinot no matter what, but the listing of California “All-American” pinots had numerous wineries that I’m as of yet unfamiliar. That is a deficiency to address in 2011.
Well, Kendall Jackson’s pinot wasn’t on this list, but it was within reach while grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, and at about $15 a bottle, within my budget, too.
I went to the KJ web site to try to learn more about the wine. Kendall Jackson was founded by Jess Jackson in 1982. In the mid-Seventies he and his wife bought an 80-acre fruit orchard and converted it into grape production. It looks like they’ve grown a lot since then. It was hard to calculate but it appears like they produce about fifteen different grape varieties, several distinct lines of wine and grow and/or purchase grapes from all over California.
Here’s what they say about the “Vintner’s Reserve” line:
The concept “Jackson Estates Grown” is the heart of our winemaking. Every grape for the Vintner’s Reserve wines is grown in cool coastal vineyards that are managed by the Kendall-Jackson viticultural team. In the winery, this gives our Winemaster a broad palette of aromas and flavors to work with when layering together the final blend. We can taste this commitment to quality in every glass…and we know you can, too.
I suppose then that the pinot noir comes from costal vineyards that KJ either owns, rents or from which they purchase grapes. It is not at all clear whether or not the pinot is single-vineyard or blended from more than one, though I’d guess the latter. Does anyone know? Whatever it is, the wine really is very nice. It may not give you one of those profound, magical, unforgettable experiences but this is damn good juice.
2007 Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner’s Reserve: The reverse of the label says that it is aged in American and French oak. This was a transparent red with a nose of raspberry, cherry, and candied strawberry. Light to medium in body with a good finish and velvety tannins, we detected fresh red berries, braised sour cherry and vanilla.