Kendall-Jackson, a.k.a. KJ, somehow got a reputation for making grocery store wine.  If this is grocery store wine, then I’ll live in the aisles because this is outrageously good – at any price.  There is a tendency to confuse high volume producers like Kendall-Jackson with bulk producers.  Those that take that stance are missing some incredible wines and, more importantly, incredible values.  Most KJ wines are estate grown, meaning they are in charge of every step in the wine producing process from growing to harvesting to bottling.  This is handcrafted wine that can hold its own and BEAT many wines 3 times the price.

From their own vineyards in Monterey and Santa Barbara, this wine is created from the top 3% of their Chardonnay lots!  Suddenly the advantages of being a high volume producer are becoming more apparent.  Much like the reserve programs of Mondavi or Beringer, only the very best vineyards/grapes/barrels from their extensive wine programs go into the reserve wines.  In the words of Charlie Sheen, Kendall-Jackson is winning.

A rich buttery style defines the Grand Reserve Chardonnay, which was aged in 69% French oak, of which 25% was new.  A smokey nose leads into a rich palate of lemonade and mango.  The finish is exceptionally long, with citrus and tropical fruit lingering on for 30 seconds or more.  I can’t say enough good things about this $15 wine.

Parker gave it 90 points.  I think it has an added depth and complexity to warrant 91.  Either way it’s a screaming, case-worthy value.

Buy Here: 2008 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay $14.95

Robert Parker 90 points

“The 2008 Chardonnay Grand Reserve, which comes from their vineyards in Monterey and Santa Barbara, is a richer, fuller wine with loads of tropical fruit and honeysuckle. It is crisp, full-bodied, and again, an impressive wine to drink over the next several years.

The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner’s Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.”

Tonight was the second attempt with my new pasta maker, and this time called for a white wine pairing.  I’ve long been impressed with Syrah bottlings from Qupé so I picked up a bottle of their 2009  Bien Nacido Vineyard “Y” Block to drink with Sicilian fettuccine with roasted tomatoes.

It’s exceptionally rare to find a single vineyard Chardonnay made with this precision and cost (25% new oak barrels) for under $20.  Plus, Qupé clearly takes pride in their wines and I like supporting wineries like that.  After all, with a few exceptions, wineries are just small businesses trying to put a great product in front of customers while making a profit.  The majority fail at both points, and while I can’t speak to their profitability, I can tell you  Qupé has a great product.

As previously mentioned on Nickel and Dime Wine, the central coast and specifically Santa Barbara County is a breeding ground for Chardonnay values.  The source of this wine’s grapes,  Bien Nacido Vineyard, is world renowned for growing super premium cool climate grapes like Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  That vineyard, combined with expert winemaking produces a full bodied Chardonnay that’s both rich and buttery yet focused and clean at the same time.  Oak is present, but it’s perfectly in balance with nice acid.

This wine sells for between $15 and $20 most places and, according to Google shopping, LA Wine Co. has the lowest price by far.  Today’s takeaway: good grapes + good winemaking + good pricing = a perfect Thursday night.  Now when mom asks you what you learned today, you have an answer.

Buy Here: 2009 Qupe “Bien Nacido – Y Block” Santa Maria Chardonnay $12.95

I opened this wine on Tuesday night and it was thoroughly enjoyable.  This sat on the counter for two days while I made  a trip from LA to Chicago and back, which made the second half of the bottle twice as good.  This is easily the best Syrah value I’ve tasted all year and a top 5  overall wine value.   And remember: every wine I write about is a value!  If you buy one Syrah all year, buy the Zaca Mesa 2006 Santa Ynez Valley.  I can’t say enough about the value here.

2006 Zaca Mesa Syrah $15.95

I have not had a better domestic Syrah this year.  The $15.95 Zaca Mesa Syrah is that good.  I knew it as I was pouring because the aromas absolutely jumped out of the glass.  As a point of reference, Shafer’s legendary “Relentless” Syrah got 90 points from Wine Spectator for the 2006 vintage and it’s $60.  I’m not saying the Shafer isn’t worth $60, just that the Zaca Mesa is that good!

Tonight I made a truffled Shiitake mushroom and chicken pizza and the earthiness of the mushrooms and truffle oil were a perfect compliment to this Syrah.  Yes, I said the food was a compliment to the wine, not the opposite.  The wine was the star today.

This Syrah comes from Zaca Mesa’s estate vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County.  The estate label means that the grapes are from Zaca Mesa’s own vineyards and they never leave their property until after the wine is bottled.

Everything about the nose on this wine screams Syrah.  It’s not overblown or hot like some domestic Syrah.  Scents of  sweet blackberry and a hint of white pepper lead into an awesome round flavor of dark cherries with a hint of smoky bacon.  Speaking of bacon, the texture is like they mixed in a little bit of bacon fat- mouth coating and smooth.  Everything about this wine- the nose, mouthfeel, taste and finish- is perfectly integrated, which addresses my main complaint about domestic Syrah.  So good.

The 2006 vintage is almost sold out so get it while you can.  Values like this don’t come along very often.   It will last for 10 or more years so don’t be shy!

Buy Here: 2006 Zaca Mesa Syrah $15.95

Wine Spectator 93 points

“Offering wonderful floral, grapey plum and wild berry aromas, this is rich, smooth and supple on the palate, with tiers of dark berry, mocha, mineral and spice flavors that glide along. Drink now through 2015. 12,325 cases made. “

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this but I love Santa Barbara Chardonnays.  So much so that I have six of Fess Parker’s ‘coon  skin hat engraved wine glasses- an ode to his days playing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the ’50′ s and ’60′s.  Sadly, we lost Fess on March 18th of this year (my dad is shedding a tear right now), but his legacy lives on in some of Santa Barbara county’s best Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Super rich and oaky, this is the antithesis to the stainless steel, no malolactic fermentation Chardonnay that’s stylish now.  This is not what you would call subtle, but sometimes subtle is just an excuse to make boring wine.  For $13.95, this is one of the best values currently on the market.

If you live in the L.A. area make it a point to visit the Fess Parker winery on Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Barbara wine country.  Some might call it “commercial” but it’s a beautifully manicured property that has some of the best wines in the county.  On the weekends they make some killer tri-tip tacos that you can eat while walking the vineyards.  My favorite part- with your $10 tasting you get a nice crystal glass engraved with the Fess Parker logo.  Wouldn’t it be nice if they still did that in Napa?!

Buy Here: 2008 Fess Parker Chardonnay $13.95

Wine Enthusiast 93 points

“Run, don’t walk to buy up cases of this beautiful, well-priced Chardonnay. It’s rich and sumptuous in vanilla oak and lees-inspired flavors of pineapples, pears and lime tart. Easy to find, with production of 17, 496 cases.”

We recently reviewed the 2008 Camelot Highlands Estate Chardonnay from Kendall-Jackson and I called it without a doubt the best Chardonnay I’ve ever had under $25.  The “Jackson Hills” line is one step down from the Camelot Highlands and is definitely one the the best Chardonnays I’ve ever had under $20.

I’m beginning to think the restrained style of Chardonnay that’s stylish right now, is overrated, because this flamboyant, rich and buttery Chardonnay is just more fun to drink!  In the end, it’s all about what you enjoy drinking and I enjoy this style!  The smokey ripe pineapple nose leads into rich honey and tangerine on the palate.  If not quite as thick as the Camelot Highlands, the Jackson Hills Chardonnay is still very creamy and mouth coating.  This is clearly well made and luxurious, reaffirming my belief that Santa Barbara County is making the best Chardonnay in California.

Kendall-Jackson clearly knows Chardonnay, and with the expansion of their program into these higher end wines, I look forward to more great values to come!  At $19.95, LAWC has the lowest price in the country, upping the value factor that much more.

Buy Here: Kendall-Jackson “Jackson Hills” Chardonnay 2008- $19.95

Robert Parker 91 points

“The 2008 Chardonnay Jackson Hills from Santa Barbara exhibits the classic pineapple, smoky hazelnut, mango, and orange marmalade fruit notes in a full-bodied, exuberant, flamboyant style.

The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner’s Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.”

This is ridiculously good for the price.  It’s definitely the best Chardonnay I’ve ever had for under $25 and also the best I’ve had from one of my favorite appellations, Santa Barbara County.  To my taste, dollar for dollar, Santa Barbara Chardonnay beats the same varietal from Napa, Sonoma or Monterey easily.

I hate to keep driving this point home, but many of the reserve wines from the big producers are knock-out values.  Kendall-Jackson makes over 2 million bottles of their Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, and it’s pretty good.  So when they focus on only 3700 cases of a single vineyard Chardonnay, you know it’s going to be something special.  Some might be turned off by the Kendall-Jackson label but those people will just have to miss out, and that just means more for us!

The nose is really nice with smoke and bright tropical fruit.  But the best part of this Chardonnay is the incredibly unique texture.  It’s oily and thick- fully mouthcoating, but still refined and sofisticated.  Camelot Highlands Chardonnay tastes great too with nice mango flavors framed by French oak.  The finish is lingering, with a nice bite suggesting this could age for a few years.

I haven’t been this excited about a Chardonnay since- well I’ve been excited about quite a few- but this one will likely remain at the top of the heap for a while.  If you don’t want to trust me, just look what Bob Parker had to say:

Robert Parker- 93 points

“The highest production comes from the 2007 Highland Estates Chardonnay Camelot Vineyard (3,700 cases), which exhibits abundant amounts of pineapple, honeysuckle, and peach along with hints of brioche and caramel. Its full-bodied, luscious finish exhibits a subtle note of oak. This Chardonnay should drink well for several years.

As I wrote last year, despite a production of two million bottles of the Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, 110,000 bottles of the Vintner’s Reserve Merlot, and 170,000 bottles of the Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, these are all good as well as value-priced wines. The third level in the Kendall-Jackson hierarchy is the Highland Estates cuvees, all essentially single vineyard wines from some of Jess Jackson’s finest sites. The brilliance of the Chardonnays in this portfolio needs to be addressed. Kendall-Jackson’s Highland Estates is also showcasing some very fine Pinot Noirs, generally made from the newer Dijon clones planted in cool vineyard sites. The Bordeaux varietal blends are all well-made wines, but except for the 2006 Merlot Taylor Peak (1,500 cases), production ranges from a low of 340 cases for the 2006 Trace Ridge Proprietary Red, to 870 cases of the 2006 Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon.” (WA)

2007 Kendall- Jackson Camelot Highlands Estate Chardonnay- $24.95