Kendall Jackson, Sonoma County: 10 Delicious Bottles, Taste, Prices (2024)

Kendall Jackson is a family-owned winery in California’s Santa Rosa that produces a range of delicious wines, including America’s favorite Chardonnay.

The winery has several accolades to its credit, including a spot in ‘Wine and Spirits’ magazine’s ‘Top 100 Wineries Of The Year’ for the tenth time in 2011. The estate’s flagship Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay was served at the Reagan White House and became Nancy Reagan’s favorite.  

Let’s explore everything about the Kendall Jackson wine estate - the different ranges and varietals, the 10 best Kendall Jackson bottles, a brief history, and some great food pairing options.

Kendall Jackson Wine Ranges And Varietals

The Kendall Jackson wine estate grows its grape varieties organically in the coastal and mountainous vineyard plots of Lake County, Mendocino County, Sonoma County, and Napa Valley. 

The wines produced are usually oak-aged to enhance their flavor and aroma.

The estate has several fantastic wine ranges and varietals. These are:

1. Stature

These estate wines are the highest quality wines in the K-J winery collection. They are hand-blended and aged in 60% new French oak barrels. The two prominent varietals of this range are:

• Stature Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
• Stature Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2. Jackson Estate 

This range is a tribute to Jackson Family Wines. These wines showcase the beauty of either one grape variety or parcel from the estate vineyards and are aged in French oak or stainless steel barrels. Four notable varietals include:

• Jackson Estate Kelsey Hills Sauvignon Blanc
• Jackson Estate Panorama Rosé
• Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
• Jackson Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

3. Grand Reserve 

The Grand Reserve range displays the magnificence and detail of Kendall Jackson blending. Grapes are sourced from just one coastal grape-growing site and aged in a mix of American and French oak. Here are some noteworthy varietals:

• Grand Reserve Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
• Grand Reserve Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
• Grand Reserve Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
• Grand Reserve Piner Hills Estate Dessert Wine 

4. Vintner’s Reserve 

This is the most famous range of the winery - it focuses heavily on the fruitiness of the wines. Sourced from the cool coastal regions of the estate vineyards, these wines mature in a mixture of stainless steel, French, and American oak. Some well-known bottles include:

• Vintner’s Reserve California Chardonnay
• Vintner’s Reserve California Sauvignon Blanc
• Vintner’s Reserve Sonoma County Merlot
• Vintner’s Reserve Mendocino County Zinfandel

5. K-J Avant 

This handcrafted range is a counterpart to the Vintner’s Reserve, and produces incredibly fruit-forward wines. All the wines age in stainless steel tanks instead of oak barrels to emphasize the fruitiness of Chardonnay. There are only two varietals in this range:

• K-J Avant California Unoaked Chardonnay
• K-J Avant California Lower Calorie Chardonnay

10 Best Kendall Jackson Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here’s a list of some fantastic Kendall Jackson Winery bottles to add to your shopping list:

• 1997 Kendall-Jackson Stature Red, Napa Valley, United States 
• 2007 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Alisos Hills Syrah, Santa Barbara County, USA 
• 2007 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Taylor Peak Merlot, Bennett Valley, United States 
• 2005 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, USA
• 2006 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Late Harvest Chardonnay, Monterey County, USA 
• 2013 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Outland Ridge Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, USA 
• 1997 Kendall-Jackson Great Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, USA 
• 2014 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley, USA 
• 2016 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Camelot Highlands Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, USA 
• 2016 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California, USA 

1. 1997 Kendall-Jackson Stature Red, Napa Valley, United States ($102)

Here’s a 1997 red that offers cassis, leather, and spice aromas. It has a full body with juicy plum and wild black cherry flavors.

2. 2007 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Alisos Hills Syrah, Santa Barbara County, USA ($96)

Licorice, blackberry, and earth permeate the nose of this California wine. Expect hints of mocha flavor with an expressive cola finish.

3. 2007 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Taylor Peak Merlot, Bennett Valley, United States ($96)

This Merlot has a resinous and slightly smoky aroma with cedar, plum, and burnt toast notes on the palate. It has supple tannins and a medium-length finish.

4. 2005 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, USA ($85)

Here’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon wine with black fruit, cassis, and vanilla notes. There’s a medium viscosity with oaky scents on the nose.

5. 2006 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Late Harvest Chardonnay, Monterey County, USA ($96)

This 2006 Kendall Jackson Chardonnay wine has vanilla and citrus aromas followed by mango, papaya, and other beautifully integrated tropical flavors.

6. 2013 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Outland Ridge Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, USA ($67)

This bold Pinot Noir wine has bright black cherry, toasted oak, and earth on the palate. Smoke, ripe strawberry, and vanilla beguile the nose of this red wine.

7. 1997 Kendall-Jackson Great Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, USA ($45)

Mocha chocolate, dark fruit, and tobacco notes burst through the palate of this Cabernet Sauvignon. There are some light tannins and a toasted oak aroma on the nose.

8. 2014 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley, USA ($40)

This exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon bottle opens with earthy aromas of leather and mushrooms with hints of black cherry, blackberry, and vanilla on the palate. 

9.  2016 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Camelot Highlands Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, USA ($24)

Here’s a Chardonnay with beautifully integrated tropical flavors of pineapple, mango, and papaya. It has vibrant aromas of peach and citrus fruit on the nose, a creamy mouthfeel, and a lingering finish.

10. 2016 Kendall-Jackson 'Jackson Estate' Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California, USA ($26)

Bright black cherry, toasted coconut, and cloves permeate the nose of this wine. There’s a nice acidity with forest floor, allspice, and cedar flavors. Prepare for a spicy peppercorn finish.

Food Pairings With Kendall Jackson

Since Kendall Jackson produces such a variety of quality wines, you can expect a range of food pairing options.

• White Wine Food Pairings: Salads, vinaigrettes, herbs, horseradish, fish, and other summer foods pair spectacularly with Kendall Jackson whites.
• Red Wine Food Pairings: Winter pumpkin, turnips, and steak are excellent with Kendall Jackson reds.

And for dessert, pair a Kendall Jackson red with cookies and a lovely peach jam panna cotta.

Let’s also take a brief look at the colorful history of Kendall Jackson.

History of Kendall Jackson

In 1974, Jess Jackson and his wife Jane “Kendall” Jackson founded the Kendall Jackson estate by converting an 80-acre pear and walnut orchard into a vineyard. 

The estate began winemaking in 1982 and established the Kendall Jackson brand. The brand now operates under the Jackson Family Wines umbrella company. 

In the 1980s, the Kendall Jackson Winery focused on blending wines from different regions instead of terroir-driven winemaking. From the 2000s, it prioritized terroir expressions to upgrade its wine quality.

After the death of Jess Jackson in 2011, his son-in-law, Don Hartford took over as CEO of the company.

Impress Your Guests With A Bottle Of Kendall Jackson

From crisp Chardonnays to full-bodied Merlots, Kendall Jackson produces a diverse range of delicious wines that pair with all kinds of foods. 

A bottle of Kendall Jackson wine is the perfect addition to surprise guests at your next dinner party.

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