When one thinks of the 2008 vintage they do not think “wow, what a powerhouse” – they usually think of words like ‘hard’ and ‘challenging’ – but it all depends what you do with grapes from just such a vintage. Bernie Gorski (owner / winemaker) put his Merlot in barrel for 10 months, a mix of American and French, with 20% being new. Blueberry and raspberry lead the charge with nice white pepper and spice – the wine was hand bottled to minimize the bruising one can get with the use of hoses and pumps, the result is a Merlot to be proud of: gentle and juicy with enough stuffing to keep it interesting. Price: $14.80 – Rating: ****