2012 Bryant Family Vineyard Bettina

Community Tasting Notes (13) Avg Score: 95.2 points

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  11/2/2023 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Prior notes somewhat of a hodgepodge on air time, so went with a 2 hr double decant. That seemed about right, as this was open for business. Initial decant pour seemed light and somewhat translucent, but with air, this gained weight.
  
  Earth and herbal initial notes gave way quickly to saline, wood, red and black raspberry, black olive, spice/incense with more time. Oak receded, but a nice tannic structure remains, somewhat drying on the back end, but not obtrusive. Got better with more air—blood orange notes (nice!) show up late, along with a hint of cola.
  
  This feels like it just squeaked into the early part of the drinking window. Will hold bottle #2 for 3 yrs +. Took a flyer and picked up on the secondary at a big discount, seemingly worth it, but a terrible QPR at full bore and ‘normal’ secondary prices.
  
  Paired beautifully with pecan smoked Flannery hangers.
  
  95 to start, 97 to finish.

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  9/25/2022 - asteff Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Nice. Dark. Better on day 2.

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  12/11/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points

  Agree with the prior note. This was surprisingly inward and closed for a 2012. Medium bodied and dominated by red cherry. Cassis and milk chocolate on the edges. Mouth drying tannins. Softened after an hour of so but not a super ripe 2012.

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  5/25/2021 - msuwine wrote: 95 Points

  This ripe and heady Cabernet blend is drinking with more inwardness than most of its 2012 brethren, but it's delicious all the same. Dark red in color; full in body; aromas of boysenberry, graphite, spice cake, and trail dust. Flavors of grilled blueberry, baking chocolate, and dried rosemary, with a grainy and lingering finish. Blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot from Abreu’s Madrona, Thorevilos, and Posadas (then Lucia). 15.1% alcohol. Decant at least two hours, if not more, but ideally wait another few years.
  
  This was my first time tasting the 2012 Bettina, a wine that I approached with great expectations - one of my favorite vintages, one of my favorite wines, etc. That said, if there is a bigotry of low expectations, there is also a tyranny of high ones (not quite a tyranny, of course, since one choses to pay these prices, which befit high expectations, but, yeah… anyway). This is a damn good wine, but it’s going to be even better in the years ahead. Made by Helen Keplinger. Enjoy the 2009, 2010, or 2014 while you’re waiting for this one to blossom. 95 at the moment, with upside in 2023 or later.

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  12/11/2020 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 96 Points

  Very polished and refined. Deeply aromatic with blue and black fruits. Palate is reminiscent of the left bank. Drinking superbly now but has a lot of life ahead.

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View all 13 Community Tasting Notes

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