Legit rim variation. Mint, herbs, a little dirt on the nose. Lovely blue fruit on the palate. Tannins still pretty firm. Medium+ dryness. High acid. Soft, long, dry finish that makes me wish I saved a meal for it, haha.
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Had this at Lava Lava Beach club on the Big Island and as such it was really to hard to gauge as we drank this out of basically what amounted to a Dixie cup. No fault of the restaurant - it just wasn’t a wine place. That being said, this was enjoyable though the fruit seemed a bit thin, but it could have just as easily been my teriyaki steaks sweetness off taste the fruit. No matter, enjoyed it and certainly the dinner!
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Sometimes wines are about the memories they evoke. This bottle was given to me by a dear friend who passed away two years ago. It’s fully mature, gliding on a plateau overseeing fruit, dark chocolate nibs, tobacco, earth and a dash of vanilla. Tannins are fully integrated, and there is an acidic spine that makes it mouthwatering. The tobacco takes a larger role on the palate, where the fruit turns towards liqueur. Overall it’s heading towards sultry, a more caressing than aggressive wine.
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Dad's Birthday (The Ranch, WI): Very dark red color with a 3mm clear margin. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. Had this at the ranch for my Dad's birthday under less than optimal conditions with high heat and humdity. This seemed pretty thin on opening, but ultimately took on some weight and opened up more. Lots of pencil on the nose, dried wood, cassis, dark fading fruit, grainy moderate tannins. Hanging in there, but this is on the downward slope with more dried faded fruit character. Drink up.
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At John Howie bar. Reconfirmed my preference for most Washington wines young. A nice wine, drinking well. Just lacked the primary flavors I prefer. Subtle and balanced. Improved with time in glass.
Nice showing, and will hold for a while yet. Redder fruited profile versus a 2003 Woodward Canyon served alongside. Still has some tannic presence, but it was enjoyable. The crowd was split between the two.
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Interesting exercise. This was a little past peak, but still good (compared to one we had 4 months ago that was surprisingly youthful). Different experience but equally enjoyable.
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Several years left. The bottle last night had been impeccably stored for its whole life, but still surprised us with its level of development (more specifically, the lack there of, for a nearly 15 year old wine). Still on the upward side of its trajectory with a ways to go before reaching the apex. Dare I say, still has hints of youthful energy. The color and weight certainly convey that impression. Tannins still plenty present, although nicely polished, and well balanced (it is a Betz after all). A bit closed on this particular evening, so not much in the way of secondary notes to report on. Other than wishing the nose was expressing more, a real pleasure.
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This is drinking fabulously right now. Excellent structure, with Secondary aromas fully integrated with a solid core of fruit, resolved tannins and a very, very long finish. Most fine, wish I had more.
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Crimson in color. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. 14.4% ABV. Powerful nose of cassis liqueur, molten licorice and menthol. Rich, plush and full bodied. Currants, cassis, mint and cocoa on the palate. The finish is exquisite on this exceptionally well crafted wine. Betz wines age well and the tannins here are ever present. That being said this wine is in a great place and should continue to develop for another 3-5 years.
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(Not decanted). Brooding aromas melding dark blackberry, cinnamon and currant jam. Dense and almost heavy on the palate, with unevolved blackberry and licorice flavors. Still young, still monolithic, and showing little in the way of secondary flavors and aromas. Yet another evidence points for me with regard to the necessity to age these top Betz Bordeaux blends for a long time. Purchased from the winery on release and stored in my cool offsite since. Hold.
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opened 1 hour before pouring and it seemed ready. nose was full and complex palate was interesting and still showing great fruit finish was of good length would buy again
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Opened my last bottle tonight and it was still very fresh. Good fruit still present. Integrated tannins and still some fresh acidity. Nice nose of chocolate and cassis. In it's prime and beautiful.
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Sadly, this bottle is nothing like the last one. This bottle is tired and past its prime. Fruit is gone, tannins are almost gone, only a bit of acid remains to keep it lively. This drinks like a low tannin/high fruit supermarket slurping wine ... Just without the fruit. It still has some balance so not to the level of "sink pour." I recommend you drink these up now, if it isn't already too late. (Edit: Changed this to "Flawed" as its clearly off kilter)
Cassis, sweet blackberry, hint of menthol, long finish of mineral, spice, fruit, and forest floor. Still think this has a new world extraction, taste, and finish. No hurry on this one.
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Outstanding Bordeaux blend with plenty of life left. The nose consisted of cassis, blackberries, dark cherry and an earthiness. The mineral and dark fruit palate soared on into a long finish. Before everyone knew what this was they assumed it was a left bank Bordeaux since it evoked the Old World so much. Great stuff.
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I wanted to like this wine, but it was clearly corked. Apart from that it had nice acidity and was well integrated and well balanced. Tasted like it was from a cooler climate with a lighter style.
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Seattle Wine Group - May 2013 Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Tuscany (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Inky, deep dark color with slight bricking on the shallow edge. Very aromatic; nose of blackberries, dark plums, cocoa, black forest cake w/kirsch, and a bit of nose-clearing menthol at the end. Medium-full body, fresh and smooth, round tannins that softened over time. Very good balance, everything in check, but more harmony than tension. Fairly intense flavor profile that follows the nose ... tastes of plum, blackberries, and cocoa that ride along a tannin backbone that lifts up the flavors but does not overpower them. Very long finish that fades to stone cherries on the tongue. Very nice wine. I enjoy it very much, but not getting a huge 'wow' factor to it yet. This is just the first glass of the bottle however; I may change my mind as the bottle progresses.
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Really lovely wine. Full bodied but balanced, expressive, loamy, showing about half its age at age 9-1/2. This needs a lot more time to develop. Today my only complaint about this wine is that it's a bit of a goody-goody; it needs a hint of corruption. e.g., some VA, leather, truffle, lady-sweat.
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WOTN! Only needed 15 minutes to open in glass this is a marked change from my first bottle. The rest is the same. This is a big rich full bodied cab blend with a very long finish. One of my favorites from the northwest. May be close to peak, but could be great for years to come.
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Opened 1.5 hours prior to drinking. Mildly angry tannins right after opening that smoothed out nicely with some air. Nice black cherry, mildly earthy, tobacco. Looking at the winemakers site, this is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.
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Big fruit filled nose with cherry and tobacco scents. The wine is drinking well. it has bold black cherry flavors mixed with tobacco and a hint of wood. It is a big wine that has well integrated flavors and a smooth finish.
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Brambly dark fruit, tobacco, cool dark earth, limestone and just a hint of brett on the nose. Tannins definitely still young and firm, but not overwhelming. More restrained than the 2004 we drank next to it, but very nice.
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Rich and sumptuous. I uncorked 2 hours before drinking and found a well integrated balance of pulpy fruit, tobacco and cedar. The tannins were restrained and should hold up for the near future. Worth the $75 I paid for it? Nope. Worth the latest auction price of $46? Yes.
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I've tasted this before and was not overly impressed, but this wine forced me to eat my words tonight. Great aromatics, sweet nutmeg, soy and red velvet. It takes sometime for this evolution. This wine was decanted 2.5 hours prior to consumption. Good fruit and spice, some roasted elements, maybe tad too much oak, but not off putting, no alcohol heat noted and very smooth balance. $50 may be a tad high, but it was a very enjoyable. No rush to open these, if you do, splash decant 2-3 hours.
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Deep purple color; rich aromas of sweet black fruits; plush, luxurious mouthfeel with a palate dominated by blackberries, with a bit of black cherry; long finish; a gorgeous wine, and drinking beautifully right now. Paired with prime rib and fingerling potatoes.
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Betz Family Winery - 1997-2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Russell's, Bothell, WA): The nose had aromas of plum, black cherry and soy. This was a great nose. The palate had blackberry and cherry flavors that were a little more tart that I would have liked. This wine also seemed a little more acidic to me than the others in the flight. It did have a good length finish, but the tart cherries was the flavor that seemed to linger the longest, and I was really wanting it to taste like it smelled. I was drinking this next to the 04 vintage that I loved, so maybe I was a bit harsh in my assessment of this wine. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Alder Ridge and Boushey vineyards.
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Betz Pere de Famille Vertical Tasting (+more) (Bothell): finally got the Betz "funk" on the nose, which seems to have faded on the older bottles. there was also some menthol-lite to the aroma, plus brown sugar oak. palate: notes missing....shoot.
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Northern NJ/NY Offline (Cafe Monet - Millburn, NJ): Dark nose of black fruit, some tar, and loads of warm spices. Palate had a noticeable smokey oak component that brought a fair amount of vanilla and smoke to the mix as well. Very pure fruit with lovely blackberry and cranberry tones. For me, this wasn't complex enough to move it to the next level. A very good, but not great wine for me.
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Dark purple color. Nose of cassis, blueberry, dark fruit along with a bit of toasted oak and vanilla notes. Very dense, dark fruit on the palate with a decent amount of oak treatment but the acid and backbone of the wine kept it fresh and lively. Some chocolate notes on the back end, smooth mouthfeel and a long finish. Good with food or on its own. One of my favorite WA cabernets for the money.
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took awhile to open up. very balanced, excellent body. Tones of cherry on the tongue finish gets better as time goes by. Glad I bought current release.
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This wine is drinking just great now! Excellent balance with lasting notes of blackberries, black cherry, a little cocoa and mint with silky tannins and great acidity.
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Aromatic nose of dark fruits, cedar and spice Taste balanced, integrated tannins Round in the mouth, silk, big, yet comfortable, controlled Long, gentle, smooth finish Very satisfying
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Decanted and aerated for about 30 minutes. Very enjoyable wine with lots of dark berries, chocolate, and earthiness. Very round in the mouth and almost voluptuous, yet with a good balance of acidity to even things out. Well integrated tannins. This wine is drinking well now. I drank this next to a Concha y Toro Don Melchor of the same vintage, and while both were excellent wines, the Betz stood out more for it's fruit concentration and soft drinkability while the Don Melchor was more stern with smoke, bacon and char.
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Aging very well. Still time for my last two bottles to improve. Decanted and drank over the course of the evening. Defiantly needs time to open, 30 minutes or more.
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Opened, Decanted and Poured 1st glass to check change over time. At first very closed off giving little of anything. 15 minutes a little opening but far from ready to dirnk. 45 minutes beginning to show some very appealing dark berries and big rich mouthfeel. 90 minutes we began to get into it. It was really singing over the next hour. Blew away a 02 Beringer PR that i had two nights earlier and handled the same way.
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Purple color. Nose of fresh blueberries, earth, cassis, currants. Beautiful delineation of flavors on the palate with layers of blackberries, plum, and sweet cherry balanced by a pleasing amount of backbone. Tannins certainly present but satisfyingly grippy, with hints of acidity to provide freshness. Smooth, integrated finish. Not yet at peak, this wine is already providing loads of pleasure.
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Huge black fruit, tobacco and leather, herbs on the nose. Black cherry and current prevail with a lacing of baking spice and clamping tannins at the finish. Decanted for 30 min or so and could have used more as it opened up just as we were finishing dinner. For most of the table it needed the food, as it is a very structured wine at this point. In fact, it seems that its a bit shut down compared to the last bottle I had. A lot of years left in this wine.
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Popped and left open for around 3 hours. Wonderfully aromatic nose of cassis, black currant, mocha, and a touch of vanilla oak. More of the same on the palate with great fruit concentration but not over ripe, tons of layers of flavor and a silky palate coating mouthfeel. Tannins were there but subdued making me think this is not a long term aging wine. Long, graceful finish. This is just excellent cabernet.
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Wow! What a killer bottle of wine! In the glass it was an inky plum color with loads of dark fruits, earth, black currant, and subtle oak overtones on the nose. In the mouth this was liquid silk, with dark broading fruits that were all restrained with a subtle grace as the finish lingers on the palate for more than 30+ seconds.
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This is a really nice wine that's complex, full bodied and loaded with black fruit. Very expressive, with strong notes of espresso beans, smoke, leather and cassis. Very well put together and well balanced. The finish is long and memorable.
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The nose had plum and currant aromas and a note of high-toned spice. The palate had cassis and cherry flavors. Great mouthfeel and a fairly long finish. My WOTN. Just one more example of how much I like Betz wines when they have a few years of bottle age on them. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to figure that out.
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While this seems to me to be a rather well made Washington wine with great depth and complexity of flavor it also seems to me to be lacking in lift, tension and verve. Maybe a few more years will allow something more than fruit and chocolate to show. At least it doesn't come across as overtly oaky.
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Decanted 1 ½ hrs. Initially attractive notes of fresh violets, red licorice, and assorted red fruits, but it wasn’t until about the 1 hr mark in the decanter that this little gem took the nose to a whole new level. With exotic cedar spices, dark plum aromas, and subtle suggestions of new oak married into the mix, we are in business. The 03 vintage is immediately apparent by its lush (by PdF standards) and almost round fruit profile, but there was a sneaky edge of Red Mt. structure that maintains balance and focus. Tannins are well integrated at present, with a dusty and bitter (but not unpleasant) finish. Over a couple of hours, this actually shut down quite a bit, suggesting that the wine is in a rambunctious teenager type of phase, but certainly a very bright future is in store.
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Very nice wine. Dark and dense, with a more black currant profile than I found in other Cabs. Very sweet and liqueur on entry, firm mouthfeel and fantastic length. My top 5 tonight.
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Betz Family Winery: A Bordeaux varietal retrospective with Bob Betz (Seattle, WA): Lifted nose. Really intense wine, liqueur, more plummy than others, deep, ripe, impressive, big notes of cassis, some spirit. A real silky beast on the finish. Lots of richness and polish on display. Vineyards: Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Alder Ridge, Boushey. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.
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Big American-Washington Cab. Dark bold with dark cherry finish. Decanted for 2 hours. I think the wine is ready but will still develop. Paired well with pork tenderloin. This is a winner.
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A deep ruby color, wonderful nose of berry and mint, and a full bodied wine; slightly bitter (but not unpleasant) finish to this big, earthy cab. Definitely more mint characteristic than any other cab I've tried. Buy more.
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A very well made Cabernet. Intergrated oak and good structure. After an hour opens up into very good, but not greatt, fruit. It's there, just not showing all its stuff yet. Another year another try.
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Will improve with another year or two, but great structure right now -- fruit and tannins are well balanced. What it lacks on the nose it more then compensates for on the palate....
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Beautiful ruby color. A bit tight immediately after opening but after 30-60 minutes decanting it was opening nicely. We're going to a betz tasting tomorrow and we're looking forward to tasting the '04. Sophisticated, but maybe a little pricy ($50). But, based on the strength of this one and what we've read, we're looking forward to trying other Betz wines.
Call it a 3 out of 4.
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my opinion differs greatly from the other notes. Definitely a fine cab, well balanced and flavorful, but it was not very complex and had a very simple nose to it. Maybe a bad bottle?
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Fantastic wine! Popped and poured, spent the first 10 minutes just sticking my nose deep in the glass. swirl, sniff, swirl, sniff repeat. Black cherry and currant dominate a lush mouth feel and it finshes strong and long with some still heavy handed tannins. While I love this now, I think it will integrate and improve with some time.
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Decanted for 90 minutes and it tasted great. Young, yes, but huge aromas of fruit and smokiness, and lots of depth.But after another 2 hours in the decanter, the immediate flavor was still there, but the finish has really tapered off. Interesting. Will drink the second 1/2 tomorrrow. Second day: well, I think I ruined it by giving it too much air yesterday. It's really flat. Should only do 60 - 90 min at most next time.
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After a brief decant showing red currant and iodine on the nose with a peppery spice. In the mouth big fruit wrapped around a firming spine. Perks up with food. This will age famously.
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Tasted at El Gaucho 4/4: Much tighter and more structured than the Andrew Will, not as expressive on the nose and with more currant and blackberry on the palate, rather than dark cherry. Good, and much better with some age.
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Decanted 2.5 hrs. Starts off with a real haymaker of a nose, with sweet violets, black raspberry, rose petal, and a touch of cedar. Quite forward and plush, probably stemming from the merlot and malbec components (13% & 8%). Black cherry, tobacco, fresh sage, and mint are there in abundance, providing great energy in the mouth. Never heavy. New oak is certainly evident, but matched blow for blow by the rich fruit and should integrate in due course. Tannins are bold, but have a great mineral quality on the very long finish. Superb and quintessential Washington Cabernet, for my palate anyway. This is a freaking steal for the price ($43) from one of favorite WA producers.
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9/4/2023 - tombiro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted overnight.
Legit rim variation. Mint, herbs, a little dirt on the nose. Lovely blue fruit on the palate. Tannins still pretty firm. Medium+ dryness. High acid. Soft, long, dry finish that makes me wish I saved a meal for it, haha.
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7/2/2023 - Dale M wrote:
Had this at Lava Lava Beach club on the Big Island and as such it was really to hard to gauge as we drank this out of basically what amounted to a Dixie cup. No fault of the restaurant - it just wasn’t a wine place. That being said, this was enjoyable though the fruit seemed a bit thin, but it could have just as easily been my teriyaki steaks sweetness off taste the fruit. No matter, enjoyed it and certainly the dinner!
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7/17/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Sometimes wines are about the memories they evoke. This bottle was given to me by a dear friend who passed away two years ago. It’s fully mature, gliding on a plateau overseeing fruit, dark chocolate nibs, tobacco, earth and a dash of vanilla. Tannins are fully integrated, and there is an acidic spine that makes it mouthwatering. The tobacco takes a larger role on the palate, where the fruit turns towards liqueur. Overall it’s heading towards sultry, a more caressing than aggressive wine.
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7/1/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Dad's Birthday (The Ranch, WI): Very dark red color with a 3mm clear margin. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. Had this at the ranch for my Dad's birthday under less than optimal conditions with high heat and humdity. This seemed pretty thin on opening, but ultimately took on some weight and opened up more. Lots of pencil on the nose, dried wood, cassis, dark fading fruit, grainy moderate tannins.
Hanging in there, but this is on the downward slope with more dried faded fruit character. Drink up.
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4/8/2020 - norsktorsk Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and rich. long finish. awesome
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4/30/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Decanted to oxygenate and remove sediment. Mostly tertiary flavors now with tea notes and dried flowers. Drank well initially but faded in the glass.
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12/24/2018 - tjross Likes this wine: 92 Points
At John Howie bar. Reconfirmed my preference for most Washington wines young. A nice wine, drinking well. Just lacked the primary flavors I prefer. Subtle and balanced. Improved with time in glass.
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9/10/2018 - BRR Likes this wine:
Nice showing, and will hold for a while yet. Redder fruited profile versus a 2003 Woodward Canyon served alongside. Still has some tannic presence, but it was enjoyable. The crowd was split between the two.
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7/13/2018 - norsktorsk wrote: 91 Points
Holding up well. nice.
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5/19/2018 - millerarner wrote: 92 Points
Interesting exercise. This was a little past peak, but still good (compared to one we had 4 months ago that was surprisingly youthful). Different experience but equally enjoyable.
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2/17/2018 - mercurius wrote: 94 Points
About perfect with not much secondary flavors yet; still drinking young. Smooth tannins and nice acid.
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1/29/2018 - millerarner wrote: 92 Points
Several years left. The bottle last night had been impeccably stored for its whole life, but still surprised us with its level of development (more specifically, the lack there of, for a nearly 15 year old wine). Still on the upward side of its trajectory with a ways to go before reaching the apex. Dare I say, still has hints of youthful energy. The color and weight certainly convey that impression. Tannins still plenty present, although nicely polished, and well balanced (it is a Betz after all). A bit closed on this particular evening, so not much in the way of secondary notes to report on. Other than wishing the nose was expressing more, a real pleasure.
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12/2/2016 - caldocane Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is drinking fabulously right now. Excellent structure, with Secondary aromas fully integrated with a solid core of fruit, resolved tannins and a very, very long finish. Most fine, wish I had more.
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8/9/2015 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Crimson in color. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. 14.4% ABV. Powerful nose of cassis liqueur, molten licorice and menthol. Rich, plush and full bodied. Currants, cassis, mint and cocoa on the palate. The finish is exquisite on this exceptionally well crafted wine. Betz wines age well and the tannins here are ever present. That being said this wine is in a great place and should continue to develop for another 3-5 years.
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11/10/2014 - BRR Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Not decanted). Brooding aromas melding dark blackberry, cinnamon and currant jam. Dense and almost heavy on the palate, with unevolved blackberry and licorice flavors. Still young, still monolithic, and showing little in the way of secondary flavors and aromas. Yet another evidence points for me with regard to the necessity to age these top Betz Bordeaux blends for a long time. Purchased from the winery on release and stored in my cool offsite since. Hold.
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10/27/2014 - Redteeth wrote:
Consistent with my 6/6/2014 tasting note; a real crowd pleaser.
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9/20/2014 - BGK810 wrote: 92 Points
Tastes like a rich Bordeaux. Black currant, black cherry, nicely integrated oak.
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6/19/2014 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
opened 1 hour before pouring and it seemed ready.
nose was full and complex
palate was interesting and still showing great fruit
finish was of good length
would buy again
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6/6/2014 - Redteeth wrote:
Drank without decanting. it was very nice and seemed to have a few good years left if one is inclined to hold.
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4/6/2014 - KPieper Likes this wine:
Opened my last bottle tonight and it was still very fresh. Good fruit still present. Integrated tannins and still some fresh acidity. Nice nose of chocolate and cassis. In it's prime and beautiful.
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2/4/2014 - f22nickell wrote: flawed
Sadly, this bottle is nothing like the last one. This bottle is tired and past its prime. Fruit is gone, tannins are almost gone, only a bit of acid remains to keep it lively. This drinks like a low tannin/high fruit supermarket slurping wine ... Just without the fruit. It still has some balance so not to the level of "sink pour." I recommend you drink these up now, if it isn't already too late. (Edit: Changed this to "Flawed" as its clearly off kilter)
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1/25/2014 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
Cassis, sweet blackberry, hint of menthol, long finish of mineral, spice, fruit, and forest floor. Still think this has a new world extraction, taste, and finish. No hurry on this one.
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11/9/2013 - mulder wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding Bordeaux blend with plenty of life left. The nose consisted of cassis, blackberries, dark cherry and an earthiness. The mineral and dark fruit palate soared on into a long finish. Before everyone knew what this was they assumed it was a left bank Bordeaux since it evoked the Old World so much. Great stuff.
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7/6/2013 - golfhawk wrote: 94 Points
Smooth and balanced. Was the best right now over the '04 and '05 in a vertical.
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7/3/2013 - djdaqm wrote: flawed
I wanted to like this wine, but it was clearly corked. Apart from that it had nice acidity and was well integrated and well balanced. Tasted like it was from a cooler climate with a lighter style.
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5/20/2013 - f22nickell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seattle Wine Group - May 2013 Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Tuscany (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Inky, deep dark color with slight bricking on the shallow edge. Very aromatic; nose of blackberries, dark plums, cocoa, black forest cake w/kirsch, and a bit of nose-clearing menthol at the end. Medium-full body, fresh and smooth, round tannins that softened over time. Very good balance, everything in check, but more harmony than tension. Fairly intense flavor profile that follows the nose ... tastes of plum, blackberries, and cocoa that ride along a tannin backbone that lifts up the flavors but does not overpower them. Very long finish that fades to stone cherries on the tongue. Very nice wine. I enjoy it very much, but not getting a huge 'wow' factor to it yet. This is just the first glass of the bottle however; I may change my mind as the bottle progresses.
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4/21/2013 - rfras Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding
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4/10/2013 - BGK810 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rick black fruit flavors. Long finish.
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2/26/2013 - cpoulos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really lovely wine. Full bodied but balanced, expressive, loamy, showing about half its age at age 9-1/2. This needs a lot more time to develop. Today my only complaint about this wine is that it's a bit of a goody-goody; it needs a hint of corruption. e.g., some VA, leather, truffle, lady-sweat.
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1/31/2013 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 94 Points
WOTN! Only needed 15 minutes to open in glass this is a marked change from my first bottle. The rest is the same. This is a big rich full bodied cab blend with a very long finish. One of my favorites from the northwest. May be close to peak, but could be great for years to come.
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12/26/2012 - ewsds wrote: 92 Points
From 3.0L bottle. Very nice cab, with nice fruit and classic Cabernet favors. Very nice and enjoyed by all.
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2/25/2012 - ronco wrote: 91 Points
Opened 1.5 hours prior to drinking. Mildly angry tannins right after opening that smoothed out nicely with some air. Nice black cherry, mildly earthy, tobacco. Looking at the winemakers site, this is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.
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10/29/2011 - rfras wrote: 92 Points
Big fruit filled nose with cherry and tobacco scents. The wine is drinking well. it has bold black cherry flavors mixed with tobacco and a hint of wood. It is a big wine that has well integrated flavors and a smooth finish.
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9/10/2011 - jreis wrote:
Brambly dark fruit, tobacco, cool dark earth, limestone and just a hint of brett on the nose. Tannins definitely still young and firm, but not overwhelming. More restrained than the 2004 we drank next to it, but very nice.
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9/4/2011 - skifree wrote: 91 Points
Lush, big wine that is showing some bottle age. Lots of tobacco and earth with fruit under laying. Spice. New world for sure.
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7/21/2011 - BigGer wrote: 91 Points
Rich and sumptuous. I uncorked 2 hours before drinking and found a well integrated balance of pulpy fruit, tobacco and cedar. The tannins were restrained and should hold up for the near future. Worth the $75 I paid for it? Nope. Worth the latest auction price of $46? Yes.
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7/17/2011 - robertgoulet wrote: 92 Points
I've tasted this before and was not overly impressed, but this wine forced me to eat my words tonight. Great aromatics, sweet nutmeg, soy and red velvet. It takes sometime for this evolution. This wine was decanted 2.5 hours prior to consumption. Good fruit and spice, some roasted elements, maybe tad too much oak, but not off putting, no alcohol heat noted and very smooth balance. $50 may be a tad high, but it was a very enjoyable. No rush to open these, if you do, splash decant 2-3 hours.
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5/2/2011 - WineGeneral wrote: 93 Points
Deep purple color; rich aromas of sweet black fruits; plush, luxurious mouthfeel with a palate dominated by blackberries, with a bit of black cherry; long finish; a gorgeous wine, and drinking beautifully right now. Paired with prime rib and fingerling potatoes.
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4/10/2011 - jcbrand wrote: 94 Points
Skillfully crafted, uneventfully aged, amazing wine paired with filet.
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3/19/2011 - last chance wrote: 92 Points
Betz Family Winery - 1997-2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Russell's, Bothell, WA): The nose had aromas of plum, black cherry and soy. This was a great nose. The palate had blackberry and cherry flavors that were a little more tart that I would have liked. This wine also seemed a little more acidic to me than the others in the flight. It did have a good length finish, but the tart cherries was the flavor that seemed to linger the longest, and I was really wanting it to taste like it smelled. I was drinking this next to the 04 vintage that I loved, so maybe I was a bit harsh in my assessment of this wine. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Alder Ridge and Boushey vineyards.
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3/19/2011 - tarheel17 wrote:
Betz Pere de Famille Vertical Tasting (+more) (Bothell): finally got the Betz "funk" on the nose, which seems to have faded on the older bottles. there was also some menthol-lite to the aroma, plus brown sugar oak.
palate: notes missing....shoot.
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3/13/2011 - johnnyo wrote:
Brought to a party but didn't taste this one.
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3/5/2011 - tooch wrote: 89 Points
Northern NJ/NY Offline (Cafe Monet - Millburn, NJ): Dark nose of black fruit, some tar, and loads of warm spices. Palate had a noticeable smokey oak component that brought a fair amount of vanilla and smoke to the mix as well. Very pure fruit with lovely blackberry and cranberry tones. For me, this wasn't complex enough to move it to the next level. A very good, but not great wine for me.
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3/5/2011 - Rich S wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple color. Nose of cassis, blueberry, dark fruit along with a bit of toasted oak and vanilla notes. Very dense, dark fruit on the palate with a decent amount of oak treatment but the acid and backbone of the wine kept it fresh and lively. Some chocolate notes on the back end, smooth mouthfeel and a long finish. Good with food or on its own. One of my favorite WA cabernets for the money.
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2/10/2011 - cooberp wrote:
A dud bottle (same as the one tasted by dzop). Medium-to-full-bodied, monochromatic and uninteresting. Will have to try again.
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1/28/2011 - Atlantean wrote: 93 Points
took awhile to open up. very balanced, excellent body. Tones of cherry on the tongue finish gets better as time goes by. Glad I bought current release.
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1/2/2011 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
This wine is drinking just great now! Excellent balance with lasting notes of blackberries, black cherry, a little cocoa and mint with silky tannins and great acidity.
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12/30/2010 - djpo wrote: 93 Points
Aromatic nose of dark fruits, cedar and spice
Taste balanced, integrated tannins
Round in the mouth, silk, big, yet comfortable, controlled
Long, gentle, smooth finish
Very satisfying
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11/19/2010 - djdaqm wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and aerated for about 30 minutes. Very enjoyable wine with lots of dark berries, chocolate, and earthiness. Very round in the mouth and almost voluptuous, yet with a good balance of acidity to even things out. Well integrated tannins. This wine is drinking well now. I drank this next to a Concha y Toro Don Melchor of the same vintage, and while both were excellent wines, the Betz stood out more for it's fruit concentration and soft drinkability while the Don Melchor was more stern with smoke, bacon and char.
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9/18/2010 - McBenalds wrote: 92 Points
Still tasted young, not in a bad way. Nice amount of oak on it--wasn't obtrusive. Dark fruits, spice notes, a nice wine.
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6/21/2010 - offtwofish wrote: 93 Points
Aging very well. Still time for my last two bottles to improve. Decanted and drank over the course of the evening. Defiantly needs time to open, 30 minutes or more.
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1/3/2010 - jcbrand wrote: 94 Points
This was amazing over all three nights. This was the best wine I've had since Jerry's Hundred Acre (obviously different league on that one).
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12/24/2009 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 93 Points
Opened, Decanted and Poured 1st glass to check change over time. At first very closed off giving little of anything. 15 minutes a little opening but far from ready to dirnk. 45 minutes beginning to show some very appealing dark berries and big rich mouthfeel. 90 minutes we began to get into it. It was really singing over the next hour. Blew away a 02 Beringer PR that i had two nights earlier and handled the same way.
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12/19/2009 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
Purple color. Nose of fresh blueberries, earth, cassis, currants. Beautiful delineation of flavors on the palate with layers of blackberries, plum, and sweet cherry balanced by a pleasing amount of backbone. Tannins certainly present but satisfyingly grippy, with hints of acidity to provide freshness. Smooth, integrated finish. Not yet at peak, this wine is already providing loads of pleasure.
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11/22/2009 - benny wrote: 94 Points
Aging well. Big dark fruit. Tannins to handle a big steak. Black cherry and spices on the finish. Should I cellar or drink?
Got to think about it.
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11/8/2009 - keepitreal wrote: 93 Points
Huge black fruit, tobacco and leather, herbs on the nose. Black cherry and current prevail with a lacing of baking spice and clamping tannins at the finish. Decanted for 30 min or so and could have used more as it opened up just as we were finishing dinner. For most of the table it needed the food, as it is a very structured wine at this point. In fact, it seems that its a bit shut down compared to the last bottle I had. A lot of years left in this wine.
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10/18/2009 - zoeldar wrote: 91 Points
Drinking very well right now...seems to be near peak. Lush on the palate, with solid fruit and a decent length.
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8/29/2009 - Rich S wrote: 93 Points
Popped and left open for around 3 hours. Wonderfully aromatic nose of cassis, black currant, mocha, and a touch of vanilla oak. More of the same on the palate with great fruit concentration but not over ripe, tons of layers of flavor and a silky palate coating mouthfeel. Tannins were there but subdued making me think this is not a long term aging wine. Long, graceful finish. This is just excellent cabernet.
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5/9/2009 - Kirk Grant wrote: 92 Points
Wow! What a killer bottle of wine! In the glass it was an inky plum color with loads of dark fruits, earth, black currant, and subtle oak overtones on the nose. In the mouth this was liquid silk, with dark broading fruits that were all restrained with a subtle grace as the finish lingers on the palate for more than 30+ seconds.
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4/30/2009 - Vinomarcus wrote: 92 Points
This is a really nice wine that's complex, full bodied and loaded with black fruit. Very expressive, with strong notes of espresso beans, smoke, leather and cassis. Very well put together and well balanced. The finish is long and memorable.
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4/10/2009 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
The nose had plum and currant aromas and a note of high-toned spice. The palate had cassis and cherry flavors. Great mouthfeel and a fairly long finish. My WOTN. Just one more example of how much I like Betz wines when they have a few years of bottle age on them. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to figure that out.
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1/31/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
While this seems to me to be a rather well made Washington wine with great depth and complexity of flavor it also seems to me to be lacking in lift, tension and verve. Maybe a few more years will allow something more than fruit and chocolate to show. At least it doesn't come across as overtly oaky.
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12/7/2008 - offtwofish wrote: 90 Points
will balanced fruits and this point and little sign of tannins.
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12/5/2008 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 ½ hrs. Initially attractive notes of fresh violets, red licorice, and assorted red fruits, but it wasn’t until about the 1 hr mark in the decanter that this little gem took the nose to a whole new level. With exotic cedar spices, dark plum aromas, and subtle suggestions of new oak married into the mix, we are in business. The 03 vintage is immediately apparent by its lush (by PdF standards) and almost round fruit profile, but there was a sneaky edge of Red Mt. structure that maintains balance and focus. Tannins are well integrated at present, with a dusty and bitter (but not unpleasant) finish. Over a couple of hours, this actually shut down quite a bit, suggesting that the wine is in a rambunctious teenager type of phase, but certainly a very bright future is in store.
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10/20/2008 - jsokel wrote: 92 Points
Needed the few years of age we gave it. It was a wonderful dark fruit cab, but definitely needed decanting.
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3/17/2008 - Red Mountain Man wrote:
Very nice wine. Dark and dense, with a more black currant profile than I found in other Cabs. Very sweet and liqueur on entry, firm mouthfeel and fantastic length. My top 5 tonight.
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3/17/2008 - Eric wrote:
Betz Family Winery: A Bordeaux varietal retrospective with Bob Betz (Seattle, WA): Lifted nose. Really intense wine, liqueur, more plummy than others, deep, ripe, impressive, big notes of cassis, some spirit. A real silky beast on the finish. Lots of richness and polish on display.
Vineyards: Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Alder Ridge, Boushey. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.
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11/10/2007 - benny wrote: 95 Points
Big American-Washington Cab. Dark bold with dark cherry finish. Decanted for 2 hours. I think the wine is ready but will still develop. Paired well with pork tenderloin.
This is a winner.
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8/7/2007 - zeke26 wrote: 93 Points
A deep ruby color, wonderful nose of berry and mint, and a full bodied wine; slightly bitter (but not unpleasant) finish to this big, earthy cab. Definitely more mint characteristic than any other cab I've tried. Buy more.
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7/28/2007 - rumpole wrote: 92 Points
A very well made Cabernet. Intergrated oak and good structure. After an hour opens up into very good, but not greatt, fruit. It's there, just not showing all its stuff yet. Another year another try.
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4/3/2007 - mgoblue1994 wrote: 92 Points
Will improve with another year or two, but great structure right now -- fruit and tannins are well balanced. What it lacks on the nose it more then compensates for on the palate....
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3/6/2007 - JeffnCin wrote:
Beautiful ruby color. A bit tight immediately after opening but after 30-60 minutes decanting it was opening nicely. We're going to a betz tasting tomorrow and we're looking forward to tasting the '04. Sophisticated, but maybe a little pricy ($50). But, based on the strength of this one and what we've read, we're looking forward to trying other Betz wines.
Call it a 3 out of 4.
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2/23/2007 - MeMyself&I wrote: 89 Points
Tasty but a few more years in the cellar won't hurt.
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2/4/2007 - jsokel wrote: 88 Points
my opinion differs greatly from the other notes. Definitely a fine cab, well balanced and flavorful, but it was not very complex and had a very simple nose to it. Maybe a bad bottle?
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1/26/2007 - Triple H wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic wine! Popped and poured, spent the first 10 minutes just sticking my nose deep in the glass. swirl, sniff, swirl, sniff repeat. Black cherry and currant dominate a lush mouth feel and it finshes strong and long with some still heavy handed tannins. While I love this now, I think it will integrate and improve with some time.
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6/12/2006 - anacapa1 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes and it tasted great. Young, yes, but huge aromas of fruit and smokiness, and lots of depth.But after another 2 hours in the decanter, the immediate flavor was still there, but the finish has really tapered off. Interesting. Will drink the second 1/2 tomorrrow.
Second day: well, I think I ruined it by giving it too much air yesterday. It's really flat. Should only do 60 - 90 min at most next time.
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5/12/2006 - AZ Wine Lover wrote: 90 Points
Great nose, decant for no less than 1 hour. Not a good "sipping" wine, much better with food.
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4/30/2006 - JK wrote:
After a brief decant showing red currant and iodine on the nose with a peppery spice. In the mouth big fruit wrapped around a firming spine. Perks up with food. This will age famously.
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4/4/2006 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at El Gaucho 4/4: Much tighter and more structured than the Andrew Will, not as expressive on the nose and with more currant and blackberry on the palate, rather than dark cherry. Good, and much better with some age.
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3/12/2006 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 2.5 hrs. Starts off with a real haymaker of a nose, with sweet violets, black raspberry, rose petal, and a touch of cedar. Quite forward and plush, probably stemming from the merlot and malbec components (13% & 8%). Black cherry, tobacco, fresh sage, and mint are there in abundance, providing great energy in the mouth. Never heavy. New oak is certainly evident, but matched blow for blow by the rich fruit and should integrate in due course. Tannins are bold, but have a great mineral quality on the very long finish. Superb and quintessential Washington Cabernet, for my palate anyway. This is a freaking steal for the price ($43) from one of favorite WA producers.
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