What Kind of Wine Is Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir?
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is a type of red wine that has its origins in the famous vineyards of California, USA. The wine is famous for its dark garnet gem that has been infused with the flavors of cherries, strawberries, and raspberries along with cola and mild spices. The presence of oak also adds to the vanilla-like flavor and gives the wine a toasty finish. Although the Kendall-Jackson vineyards spread over more than 5000 yards in the coastal regions of California, the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir remains the most famous of the all of Kendall-Jackson variants.
Pinot Noir wine is ideally grown in the warmer climate inhabited in California; however, the Pinot Noir grape also thrives in the cooler climates of Burgundy and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir has been awarded the Los Angeles International Wine Competition by winning the 2012 vintage Gold and the Orange County Wine Society’s Four Star Gold. Moreover, the wine has also received a score of 90 by The Wine Advocate and 91 by the Wine Spectator.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir Review
- Winery — Kendall-Jackson
- Country/Region — United States, California
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Vibrant Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Fruit, Vanilla, Spice
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Filet Mignon, Beef, Veal, Poultry, Grilled Or Roasted Vegetables, Game
All in all, the Kendall-Jackson is one of the best wines right now in the market. It has one of the versatile tastes, as it combines the sweetness of fruits with mild spices, ensuring that it does not overdo the flavors. The addition of oak adds to the elegant earthy notes present in the wine.
Tasting Notes
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is symbolized by a dark garnet gem that delivers vibrant cherries, strawberries, and raspberries along with the essence of cola and mild spices, all of which infuse together to provide an elegant, earthy taste. The oak added to the wine makes it even more delectable, as it leaves a taste of vanilla in one’s mouth, and a soft, toasty ending. While the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir cultivated in the cooler regions have a higher fruit content and are less acidic, those grown in the warmer areas are considered to be fuller wines, as they are characterized by higher alcohol and acidic content.
Appearance
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is distinguished by a dark red shade, owing to the presence of bright red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, which have been infused with cola and mild spices. The addition of oak also provides the wine with a warm, balanced, and well-structured appearance.
Aroma
The aroma of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is defined by the distinctive scent of vanilla. This is further enhanced by the presence of oak, which gives the wine a musky quality. The wine, however, can also come across as slightly giving a spicy and a fruit-like fragrance. The reason for the same is that the key ingredients of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir are mild spices, raspberries, strawberries, red and black cherries, sour cherries, and cola. All in all, one can expect an ordinary glass of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir to have an aroma of fresh strawberries, cherries, and raspberries clubbed together with elegant earthy notes.
Taste
The taste of a glass of Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is generally considered to be bold, smooth, dry, and slightly acidic. Typically, a sip of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir leaves a taste that is fruit-like yet spicy, due to the presence of spices added in a moderate quantity, along with fruits such as red and black cherries, sour cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. Additionally, you might also find traces of vanilla infused in your wine, that have been enhanced by the presence of oak.
The Pinot Noir grapes, the main ingredient in the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir, play a huge role in determining the taste of your wine. If the Pinot Noir has been brought from warmer regions, then your wine will be thicker and have a higher concentration of alcohol. On the other hand, Pinot Noir grown in cooler regions tends to make the wine redder, and tends to be more acidic. Normally, the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir alcohol content is 13.5% for a serving of five ounces, however, it can go up to 15% for wines that have been produced in warmer regions.
Finish
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir has a sophisticated and earthy finish, rounded out by the presence of oak compounds in the wine. The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir will most likely leave a combination of a lingering fruit-like and spicy taste in your mouth, along with a dash of vanilla. However, you should not be worried that your glass of wine would be too spicy or too sweet, as both the spices and fruits have been added in mild amounts. The result is a well-balanced pinot noir, not too thin nor too thick.
Rating
If asked for Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir reviews, I would say that it is one of the best Pinot Noir wines to exist in the market right now – we give it a score of 88/100. The wine has the perfect blend of sweet and spices, as the presence of fruits do not overpower the taste of the other ingredients, nor do the spices make the wine too spicy. In addition, the wine is not too acidic and has a very minimal alcohol content.
I also would like to appreciate the presence of oak in the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir, as it leaves one with a vanilla-like taste in their mouth, along with a soft and toasty finish. Although the wine may be a little expensive for one’s pocket, it is something that is a must-try for anyone, irrespective of whether you are a wine-lover or not. All in all, my review is positive all the way.
Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Food Pairing
Although the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir can be had with or without any meals, the wine is best suited or paired with the filet mignon, cheese, cream, citrus-based fruits such as orange or lemon, red meats like beef, veal, poultry dishes, game such as deer and venison, and grilled or roasted vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir?
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Wine Estates, one of California’s largest producers of wine, with an area covering more than 4250 hectares spread over the Napa and Sonoma counties. The estate was established in 1974, when Jess Jackson acquired a 32-hectare pear and walnut orchard in Lakeport, California.
The first wine produced by him, a Chardonnay from the 1982 vintage, was well-received by the public and helped him establish ground in California’s wine industry. The Kendall-Jackson range of wines comes under the Jackson Family Wines Group, which was also founded by Jess Jackson. It is a multinational organization and has wineries throughout the world, including Cardinale and Lokoyo in the US, Chateau Lassegue in France, Calina in Chile, and Yangarra in Australia.
Since the wineries cover vast areas of land, the cultivations stretch from hillsides to valleys and cooler coastal regions, helping the Kendall-Jackson Estate to produce a wide range of grape varieties in different styles. As a result, the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates is known for its wines such as the Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon, Blanc, and Zinfandel, all of which are very different from each other.
How Is Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Made?
Since the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is known for maintaining a perfect balance between its fruit and spice content, its production is a long process. The Estate needs to first procure the finest quality Pinot Noir grapes, which is the main ingredient in the Pinot Noir wine, from its vineyards by cultivating them in the appropriate climate and with the perfect soil type.
Once the Pinot Noir grapes have been plucked, they are aged for around nine and a half months in 98% oak barrels for hints of toast, vanilla, and cedar aromas. Once this step is completed, the lots are segregated till the final blend has been made. However, the flavor of the wine depends upon where the Pinot Noir grapes have been grown. For instance, Monterey County grapes tend to develop floral nuances along with traces of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, while those grown in Santa Barbara County infuse the wine with dark cherries.
Where Is Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Made?
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is produced in one of the wineries spread over 5000 acres in the coastal regions of California, which are known for their cool, pleasant climate. Four separate wineries in the region are home to what can possibly be called the single-largest barrel-fermentation project in the world.
The Pinot Noir grape has a reputation of only being able to thrive in cool climates. Hence, the Pinot Noir is cultivated in the cooler regions of the Sonoma Coast in California, as well as Burgundy and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. However, the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is predominantly grown in California and is one of the most famous and preferred wines produced by the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Wine Estates.
How to Serve Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir?
The Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir should ideally be served at temperatures ranging between 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and is best enjoyed in a burgundy-shaped wine glass.
How Much Does Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Cost?
Although the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir is one of the costlier wine brands, it is one of the best wines in the market, and its delectable taste will leave you craving for more. Typically, the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir price ranges anywhere between $12.98 to $20 per bottle.
How Long Does Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Last?
Upon opening, a bottle of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir can last anywhere between three and five days, provided it is kept and maintained at the right temperatures.
How Many Calories Does Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Have?
The number of Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir calories in a serving of five-ounce is approximately 121 calories.
Conclusion
All in all, the Kendall-Jackson is one of the best wines right now in the market. It has one of the versatile tastes, as it combines the sweetness of fruits with mild spices, ensuring that it does not overdo the flavors. The addition of oak adds to the elegant earthy notes present in the wine.
A bottle of the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir can either have more or less alcohol content, depending upon where the Pinot Noir grape was sourced from. If the grapes had been sourced from warmer regions, the wine would have a darker texture, and more alcohol, usually 15%. On the other hand, grapes cultivated in the cooler regions would be lighter, be slightly acidic, and comparatively lesser alcohol, usually 13.5%.
