Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (75cl, 14.5%)

A 100% estate-grown Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon from Kendall-Jackson, founded in 1982 by Jess Jackson in Santa Rosa, California. The Grand Reserve tier draws fruit exclusively from select estate blocks, with roughly 70% consistent from vintage to vintage. The 2015 was handcrafted in small sets with a pre-fermentation cold soak, followed by extended maceration and 15 months of aging in 80% French oak (30% new) and 20% American oak barrels. The nose opens with black raspberry and boysenberry, followed by warm coconut and subtle mocha, with nutmeg and toasty oak emerging on swirling. The palate brings concentrated blackberry and blueberry, then red and black currant alongside coconut-inflected red plum, with acai berry, thyme and dark chocolate supported by fine-grained tannins. The finish is lengthy and richly textured, with lingering toasty vanilla and chocolate.