Kendall-Jackson Winery Debuts CollageŽ In The
U.S.
Zinfandel-Shiraz, Cabernet-Shiraz Blends Featured In New Line
Sonoma County, Calif. (December 27, 2000) - A unique series of red wines,
based on Australian models with a distinctive American twist, are now being
introduced nationwide as Kendall-Jackson CollageŽ. Previously, the
CollageŽ line has only been available in International markets.
The new wines, featuring a
Cabernet/Shiraz and Zinfandel/Shiraz
blend, should be available in January in such markets as Albertson's and
Sav On Drug Stores in Southern California; Safeway stores in Oregon; Food
Lion in North Carolina; Harris-Teeter in South Carolina; and in such Texas
stores as Randalls Grocery in Houston, Tom Thumb stores in Dallas and HEB
Grocery in San Antonio. National distribution is expected.
CollageŽ was introduced earlier this
year at the London
International Wine Fair, and has been sold exclusively in the International
market while being tested in domestic markets. Based on the enthusiastic
response overseas, and an equally positive early response in test markets,
Kendall-Jackson
Executive Vice President of Marketing John Grant decided to move ahead with
a domestic launch.
"While we're offering some
blends that are familiar to those who
know Australian wines, we're also offering some unique, and uniquely
Californian, wines such as our Zinfandel/Shiraz blend," said Grant, who
notes that the spelling of Shiraz is a small way of acknowledging the broad
international focus of the new line. "People are really responding to
this
something familiar, something new approach."
The CollageŽ line is priced just
below the popular Vintner's
ReserveŽ tier of wines, at $11 retail. Grant says he expects significant
promotional support, with regular feature pricing to $8.99.
Kendall-Jackson Winemaster Randy
Ullom serves as winemaker for the
line. His international winemaking experience and skill as a "master
blender" is a plus in formulating these new wines.
Ullom notes the wines are designed to
be light in oak, with fruit
dominating.
CollageŽ carries a California
appellation, with a striking package
that prominently features the unique multi-colored Kendall-Jackson leaf
logo with two color bars in a bold diagonal across the front of the bottle.
Depending on the varietal, the color bars evoke the flavors of the wine in
the bottle. "It takes our blending philosophy in another meaningful,
complementary direction," said Ullom.
The initial CollageŽ wines include:
1998 Zinfandel-Shiraz
Composition: 76% Zinfandel, 24% Shiraz
Growing Regions: Monterey, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo,
Sonoma, Napa
Winemaking: 11 months in small oak barrels, 68% French
oak, 32% American oak
Alcohol: 13.5% T.A.: 0.59g/100ml pH 3.64
RS: .07% or 0.7 g/l
Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Zinfandel's ripe berry flavors
combined with the powerful spice and blackberry character
of
Shiraz are complimented by subtle vanilla oak complexity.
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz
Composition: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Shiraz
Growing Regions: Monterey, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Luis
Obispo
Winemaking: 11 months in small oak barrels, 72% French
oak, 28% American oak.
Alcohol: 13% T.A. 0.60 g/100ml pH 3.71
RS: .03% or 0.3 g/l
Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Forward blackberry fruit of
Cabernet with the slightly smoky, spicy flavors of the Shiraz.
CollageŽ is expected to appeal to
adventuresome wine drinkers who
may currently be enjoying wines from Fetzer, Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste.
Michelle, Rosemount or Penfolds.
In a recent Wine Advocate Robert
Parker Jr. said the new CollageŽ
series "looks promising." He called the wines "excellent
values" and said
of the Zinfandel Shiraz (85 points) "Another fruity, straightforward but
attractive wine is the 1998 Zinfandel/Shiraz. Spicy, peppery, and light to
medium-bodied, with copious fruit, it is not complicated, but, hey, who's
complaining at this price level? This is good wine for uncritical quaffing
over the next 1-2 years."
New York Times wine critic Frank
Prial preferred the
Cabernet-Shiraz. He said: "The Syrah element in both wines is
powerful.
Because of it, the Cabernet-based wine is Australian in style: Cabernet
structure with Syrah spice."
CollageŽ wines will also be
available, where legal, on the web at
KJ.com.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates produces
a broad portfolio of premium
wines focused on hillside and coastal growing regions in California, South
America and Italy. Along with Kendall-Jackson, which features CollageŽ,
Vintner's ReserveŽ, Grand Reserve, Great Estates and Stature wines, KJWE
offers Camelot and Pepi with California appellations, Sonoma's La Crema
Winery, Villa Arceno from Tuscany, Italy and South American wineries
Calina, from Chile, and Tapiz, from Argentina.
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