A refreshing, medium-dry Chardonnay, the 2007 Vintner's Reserve has apple and pear flavors in a round, balanced feel. It finishes relatively quickly and cleanly but a smooth, buttery sensation. It's not at all grassy like some Chardonnays but it is more acidic that a 2006 vintage we tried at the same time — then again, maybe the 2006 has simply mellowed after an extra year. I you prefer a less acidic Chardonnay, you might want to let the bottle sit for a few months.
Color & Clarity
The Kendall Jackson 2007 Chardonnay is a bright yellow with medium depth and clarity.
Nose
The positive fruit aromas of the Kendall Jackson 2007 Chardonnay are characterized primarily by citrus and occasionally a bit of pear.
Palate
A refreshing, medium-dry Chardonnay, the 2007 Vintner's Reserve has apple and pear flavors in a round, balanced feel. It finishes relatively quickly and cleanly but a smooth, buttery sensation. It's not at all grassy like some Chardonnays but it is more acidic that a 2006 vintage we tried at the same time — then again, maybe the 2006 has simply mellowed after an extra year. I you prefer a less acidic Chardonnay, you might want to let the bottle sit for a few months.
Food Pairing
Spicy foods like pepperoni increase the acidity of the this Chardonnay, but they also intensify the fruit flavors. Paired with aged Gouda provides intense nutty and buttery flavors, but it isn't very good with swiss or sharp cheddar. This Kendall Jackson Chardonnay is good with chicken which brings out sweet pair and melon flavors of the wine.
Recipes
You should be able to use this Kendall Jackson Chardonnay in just about any dish which calls for Chardonnay, though you'll want to consider just how much acidity you want to add. If you want to limit the amount of acid, go with a slightly older bottle that will provide all the fruit flavors of Chardonnay but with a smoother palate.
Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
Kendall Jackson grows the grapes for their Chardonnays in several areas, but most of the grapes come from Monterey county. It's become common for California vineyards to focus on producing wines based on grapes from a single vineyard for the sake of specific terroir, but Kendall Jackson rejects this trend in favor of blending wines from grapes grown across their estates.
Kendall Jackson Winery
Kendall-Jackson manages over 14,000 acres of vines along the costal regions of California. Mountains and ridges are favored because they stress the vines, forcing them to produce more flavorful and intense wines. Although a lot of wine-producing grapes are grown in California, only a small percentage are grown on sites designated as "costal" rather than "inland."
