Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a 750mL red wine from California — a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style blend sourced primarily from Sonoma County mountain and hillside vineyards, with Mendocino fruit in support. The listing carries no vintage, and this is the most vintage-variable wine in the range: documented ABV runs from 13.5% (2022) to 14.5% (2020 and 2023 releases), the Cabernet share runs from 76% (2023, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petite Syrah) to 93% (2021), and oak ageing runs 10 to 15 months in French and American oak depending on the year — so the bottle's label is the exact specification. Across vintages the method is constant: cold soaking and extended maceration to deepen colour and soften tannins, then blending from separately kept lots. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 13.5–14.5% by vintage (documented: 2022 at 13.5%, 2021 at 13.9%, 2020/2023 at 14.5%; a winery info sheet lists 2023 at 14.1% — see flag)
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend (76–93% Cabernet by vintage) with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petite Syrah
- Sourcing: Sonoma County-led (83–90% in documented vintages), with Mendocino
- Winemaking: Cold soak and extended maceration; 10–15 months in French and American oak by vintage
- Producer: Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma Mountain Fruit, a Bordeaux Supporting Cast
The winery's vintage notes give the blend a geography: Sonoma's mountain vineyards bring black cherry and structure, Mendocino's bring blackberry and mocha, and the supporting varieties each get a job — Cabernet Franc for tannin structure, Petit Verdot for mouthfeel, Malbec for roundness (2023 sheet). It is built as an accessible, earlier-drinking Cabernet with a robust frame rather than a cellar trophy. Find the range on the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates vendor page or browse the red wine collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Lush black cherry, blackberry and cassis (long-running winery note). Palate: Black currant and dark fruit with round tannins and a supple mid-palate. Finish: Cedar, vanilla and a hint of mocha, elegant and velvety.
How to Enjoy
Serve around 65°F, per the winery. Grilled steaks, lamb, burgers and aged cheddar are the natural matches; a brief decant helps young vintages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABV? It varies by vintage — documented releases run 13.5% to 14.5%. Check the bottle's label for the year in hand.
Is it 100% Cabernet Sauvignon? No — it is a Bordeaux-style blend. Recent vintages run 76–93% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petite Syrah.
Where is the fruit grown? Primarily Sonoma County (83–90% of documented blends), with Mendocino County in support.
A Sonoma-led Cabernet for the table — pick up Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Cabernet at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.