Decanted 3 hours before serving. Very deep ruby-to-purple color. Nose a bit closed, but noticeable tobacco aromas. Medium body, high acid, medium-plus fine grained tannins. Very tangy blueberries, dark raspberries, tobacco. Juicy. Very much a throwback, felt more like a 1980s Bordeaux than a modern Napa. 12.9% alcohol! Outstanding.
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The nose is dried red and blue plum with a concentrated note of black walnut. The palate is a loamy strawberry and violet with a lean, sleek blackberry core. Finishes with licorice and mouth-coating bright berry. Drink 2019 – 2027.
Decanted for about 2 hours. Wow what a treat. Iron filings, cranberry, new leather, mint, tilled dirt, cherry herd candy, black tea. Fresh acidity and fine but persistent tannins.
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PNP. Red fruit, cherry, cranberry, red currant. White pepper, iron and sage. Fine tannins, tart acidity. Medium body, very elegant, old school style. 12.9% ABV
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Not particularly noteworthy on day 1. On day 2, this shows more crystalline red fruit, raw beef, tree bark. A pretty palate that is not particularly full of fruit but shows an intriguing hint of savory development at the corners. Later in the evening, a touch of coffee grounds. I am much more keen on this than yesterday but it will need years to develop based on this bottle.
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Old school...love it. Great aromatic lift crushed red fruits and intense sage and dried herbs. Intense depth on the palate with perfect tannins and length.
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Big difference of opinion on this wine, but I liked. it. More red fruit than you normally get from a cab, but I thought it added energy and tension. More old school in style, but quite nice.
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Full disclosure: I opened this bottle in an effort to determine whether to buy the upcoming release. Montecillo is a must, giving the Vare a test. Really want to cut down what I buy. This ain’t getting cut!
1 hr decant. 12.9 ac. One of the lightest cabs out of Napa I’ve seen in a while. Light, almost like a Pinot, but more purplish than red.
Nose of fresh cut white and purple flowers, cherry candy, and spices. Very intense and expressive! Tannins managed nicely with good acid balance. A menagerie of fruit on the palate, intense up front, more subtle on the back with a lingering reminder that left me wanting more.
I’m in! This would be a great food wine, but not one I’d have at a steakhouse.
Opened this with an amazing dinner- a twist on tacos with roasted sweet potatoes as a bowl for taco goodness. Thank you Half Baked Harvest! Decanted this wine 4 hours.
Taste: tart cherry pie, pomegranate extract, boysenberry, hint of fresh Meyer lemon, and dried oregano
Finish: smooth and light, lingering tart cherry, and overall mouth coating feel
We both agreed this wine is confusing. It certainly has cabernet characteristics. I am not convinced this can handle the fat of a steak. I honestly think this would pair well with thick pork chops, as long as you used a rich dry rub. The pairing with sweet potatoes worked perfect with the low abv.
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Lighter in body than the Beta Montecillo vineyard bottling, but there is a good concentration of aromas, flavors, and structure. Mostly red fruit notes (cranberry, cherries, red currant) and creme de cassis. Organic earth, iron, cedar, and white pepper I find the dominant non-fruit notes, but there are also a hint of a sweet note that keeps changing in the glass (strawberry Jolly Ranchers, Fruit Loops, even some caramel??).
On the palate the wine is structured, with fine tannins, and tart acidity consisting mostly of red fruits, cedar, iron, and leather. Almost reminds me of a Bedrock Monte Rosso zin in flavors (are both Vare and Monte Rosso alluvial soils?). There is some eucalyptus on finish as well.
This cabernet is unique and delicious, and I'm sure it will benefit from some further aging. If Ketan's objective is to produce wines that show a sense of place, he has surely done so with this wine.
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The Vare is a midweight wine, translucent purple, slightly limpid texture. The nose is insistent with a primary aroma of creme de cassis liqueur overlaid with cedar, then all sorts of complicating notes of lilac, caramel, damp forest leaves, white pepper. After that nose you sort of expect a thick, sweet wine and it comes as a surprise that the palate is actually rather light and if anything, a bit tart. Very promising, could merit 92-93 at maturity (in five to eight years).
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1/30/2024 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 93 Points
3 years later and still great
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1/7/2023 - timothynbond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 3 hours before serving. Very deep ruby-to-purple color. Nose a bit closed, but noticeable tobacco aromas. Medium body, high acid, medium-plus fine grained tannins. Very tangy blueberries, dark raspberries, tobacco. Juicy. Very much a throwback, felt more like a 1980s Bordeaux than a modern Napa. 12.9% alcohol! Outstanding.
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10/12/2021 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Ca. CS (Mu & Mu restaurant, Rehovot): didn't impress at the tasting - was the least favorite out of 6 wines
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4/21/2021 - purely wrote: 91 Points
The nose is dried red and blue plum with a concentrated note of black walnut. The palate is a loamy strawberry and violet with a lean, sleek blackberry core. Finishes with licorice and mouth-coating bright berry. Drink 2019 – 2027.
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2/21/2021 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. Wow what a treat. Iron filings, cranberry, new leather, mint, tilled dirt, cherry herd candy, black tea. Fresh acidity and fine but persistent tannins.
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12/23/2020 - Maphill01 wrote:
PNP. Red fruit, cherry, cranberry, red currant. White pepper, iron and sage. Fine tannins, tart acidity. Medium body, very elegant, old school style. 12.9% ABV
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10/27/2020 - 5laton wrote:
Not particularly noteworthy on day 1. On day 2, this shows more crystalline red fruit, raw beef, tree bark. A pretty palate that is not particularly full of fruit but shows an intriguing hint of savory development at the corners. Later in the evening, a touch of coffee grounds. I am much more keen on this than yesterday but it will need years to develop based on this bottle.
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10/17/2020 - fdub Likes this wine: 94 Points
Old school...love it. Great aromatic lift crushed red fruits and intense sage and dried herbs. Intense depth on the palate with perfect tannins and length.
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10/9/2020 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big difference of opinion on this wine, but I liked. it. More red fruit than you normally get from a cab, but I thought it added energy and tension. More old school in style, but quite nice.
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10/7/2020 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Full disclosure: I opened this bottle in an effort to determine whether to buy the upcoming release. Montecillo is a must, giving the Vare a test. Really want to cut down what I buy. This ain’t getting cut!
1 hr decant. 12.9 ac. One of the lightest cabs out of Napa I’ve seen in a while. Light, almost like a Pinot, but more purplish than red.
Nose of fresh cut white and purple flowers, cherry candy, and spices. Very intense and expressive! Tannins managed nicely with good acid balance. A menagerie of fruit on the palate, intense up front, more subtle on the back with a lingering reminder that left me wanting more.
I’m in! This would be a great food wine, but not one I’d have at a steakhouse.
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6/28/2020 - Beezc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes of cherry and licorice. Medium bodied and delicious.
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4/18/2020 - GKtannin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened this with an amazing dinner- a twist on tacos with roasted sweet potatoes as a bowl for taco goodness. Thank you Half Baked Harvest! Decanted this wine 4 hours.
Aroma: spruce, cherry, pomegranate, oregano, marshmallow, butterscotch, olive tapenade, and leather
Taste: tart cherry pie, pomegranate extract, boysenberry, hint of fresh Meyer lemon, and dried oregano
Finish: smooth and light, lingering tart cherry, and overall mouth coating feel
We both agreed this wine is confusing. It certainly has cabernet characteristics. I am not convinced this can handle the fat of a steak. I honestly think this would pair well with thick pork chops, as long as you used a rich dry rub. The pairing with sweet potatoes worked perfect with the low abv.
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1/16/2020 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lighter in body than the Beta Montecillo vineyard bottling, but there is a good concentration of aromas, flavors, and structure. Mostly red fruit notes (cranberry, cherries, red currant) and creme de cassis. Organic earth, iron, cedar, and white pepper I find the dominant non-fruit notes, but there are also a hint of a sweet note that keeps changing in the glass (strawberry Jolly Ranchers, Fruit Loops, even some caramel??).
On the palate the wine is structured, with fine tannins, and tart acidity consisting mostly of red fruits, cedar, iron, and leather. Almost reminds me of a Bedrock Monte Rosso zin in flavors (are both Vare and Monte Rosso alluvial soils?). There is some eucalyptus on finish as well.
This cabernet is unique and delicious, and I'm sure it will benefit from some further aging. If Ketan's objective is to produce wines that show a sense of place, he has surely done so with this wine.
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1/8/2020 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cassis, med-bodied, fine tannin. Not quite as open as the '11 and '12 Beta Monticellos I've opened to date
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11/19/2019 - KPB wrote: 91 Points
The Vare is a midweight wine, translucent purple, slightly limpid texture. The nose is insistent with a primary aroma of creme de cassis liqueur overlaid with cedar, then all sorts of complicating notes of lilac, caramel, damp forest leaves, white pepper. After that nose you sort of expect a thick, sweet wine and it comes as a surprise that the palate is actually rather light and if anything, a bit tart. Very promising, could merit 92-93 at maturity (in five to eight years).
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