The 2009 Merlot Reserve is all Merlot from 1998 plantings in the Kerem Ben-Zimra area, aged for 20 months in French oak. This sharp and earthy Merlot has some juicy fruit, but it is very much on the intellectual side, but for that tinge of oak. Bright and elegant, it has some charm, some persistence on the finish and a slight weedy note. It will be best in the early going. Drink now-2016. Note that the 2007s are current – they were just submitted by the winery. Some of them received extended oak aging, which may partly account for their late submission.Importer: Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118