2009 Pride Mountain Merlot Vintner's Select

Pride's 2009 Merlot Vintner's Select is gorgeous and silky from the very first taste. Sweet red cherries, licorice, mint, cinnamon and dried flowers are all woven together in this beautifully balanced wine. The 2009 has lovely mid-palate pliancy to match its radiant, generous personality. I tasted the 2009 Merlot after all the Pride Cabernets and it more than held its own. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. These current releases from Pride are impressive for their consistency across the board. Pride does so many things well these days. Most of the reds I tasted were 2009s, a vintage Steve Pride and winemaker Sally Johnson describe as cooler than average, but warmer than either 2010 or 2011. Most of the fruit was brought in between the end of October and early November, quite late for the year, but a great example of how fruit matures on this property, which straddles Napa and Sonoma in the heart of Spring Mountain. Tel. (707) 963-4949

(100% merlot, from a selection of the estate's ripest lots; aged for 17 months in 40% new French oak): Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of plum, mocha and chocolate, with hints of resin and underbrush. Rich and dense on the palate and fresher than the nose suggests, showing good energy and lift to the red berry and spice flavors. Finishes with firm tannins and lovely persistence. In a rather feminine style for this normally more structured bottling.