Barnett Vineyards Spring Mountain Merlot 2019
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Spring Mountain Merlot is much darker than previous years. The nose is very complex, with loads of black plum and cinnamon spice. There is also aromatics of caramel, gravel and menthol that surround all the intense dark fruit. As always with this wine the mouth is full and rich, with a very pretty silkiness this year. The tannins are present, slightly chalky but soft with a good level of acidity to balance them. There is a good level of cedar and plum to the long finish. This intensely concentrated Merlot will reward those who cellar it over the next 9-10 years (2030-2031).
Blend: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Merlot gives up seductive scents of plum pudding, fruitcake and boysenberries with touches of chocolate mint and star anise. Full-bodied, rich, soft and plush, it has lots of spicy nuances and a long, fragrant finish.
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Wine
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Wine
Spectator
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains sits the Spring Mountain District.
A dynamic region, its vineyards, cut by numerous springs and streams, vary in elevation, slope and aspect. Soils differ throughout with over 20 distinct types inside of the 8,600 acres that define the appellation. Within that area, only about 1,000 are planted to vineyards. Predominantly farmed by small, independent producers, the region currently has just over 30 wineries.
During the growing season, late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes reach the Spring Mountain vineyards, which sit at between 400 and 1,200 feet. Daytime temperatures during mid summer and early fall remain slightly cooler than those of the valley floor.
Spring Mountain soils—volcanic matter and sedimentary rock—create intense but balanced reds with lush and delicate tannins. The area excels with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and in some cooler spots, Chardonnay.