The 2009 Merlot is an attractive, mid-weight wine laced with sweet red berries, licorice and flowers. This is a bit of an eccentric style, with maybe not quite enough fruit to handle its oak, yet nevertheless it remains an intriguing wine well worth paying attention to. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding lift to the clean, mineral laced finish. The Merlot includes 11% Cabernet Franc. It spent 22 months in French oak, 60% new and 40% one-year-old. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. This is a very strong set of wines from Barnett Vineyards. As good as these wines are - and they are terrific - my sense is that with a little less new oak the fruit would shine through even more.Tel. (707) 963-7075

The dark ruby-colored 2008 Merlot reveals herbal aromas of green tea and damp earth, medium body and coarse tannins. It is best drunk over the next 3-4 years before the superficial fruit fades. It’s hard to believe that Barnett Vineyards is already 27 years old. Located on a beautiful hillside high on Spring Mountain, they have branched out from their original Cabernet program to include Chardonnays and, more recently, Pinot Noirs, all of which merit attention.Tel. (707) 963-7075; Fax (707) 963-3724

Superripe and fruity, with strong flavors of cherries, chocolate and new oak. The mountain tannins are rich and polished. A good wine, but somewhat one-dimensional. Drink now.——S.H.(6/1/2010)—— 86