July 25, 2013 - This has aged very well. Very balanced for such a big wine. Unfortunately my last bottle.
March 25, 2009 - Popped and poured this Betz version of a CdP (84% Alder Springs grenache and 16% Red Mountain syrah). More red than blue in the glass and more red than blue in the mouth--which is what you'd expect but RM syrah can be powerful. Ripe with aromas of cherries, strawberries, earth, liqueur, and even some herbs. Medium bodied showing a nice plushness from the almost sweet tasting strawberries and rocky minerality. The only knock from me would be a bit of heat on the finish which dissipates rather quickly. Not as animalistic or primal as his 2006 but very well made. 92pts.
March 1, 2009 - Very similar to my last bottle. Great nose full of strawberry and a bit of pepper. Rich flavorful and very fruit forward with strawberry and raspberry tastes. Medium bodied finish and a lingering finish. Very enjoyable. (195 views)
July 18, 2008 - This is the best American Grenache I've tasted! Velvety soft with fantastic fruit. Great job Bob!
June 24, 2008 - The nose on this wine changed several times during the tasting. At first I got a bandaid and medicinal nose on this, but later it turned into some terrific old world CDP-type barnyard smells. Of the three Besoleils tasted, this one was completely different than the 04' and 05'. There was some suprising spritz on the palate, but that eventually faded away. Medium weight, nicely rounded wine. The finish really lingered on this one too at over 30 seconds in length. Very enjoyable and would like to monitor the evolution of an entire bottle next time!
June 24, 2008 - Bob Betz Rhone Tasting (Gracious Host Eric LeVine): This wine was jumping all over the place tonight. Opened up immediately with a syrupy sweet aroma of Rasberry . After a few minutes of swirling, the nose turned more stewed and reductive. A little spritz on the disjointed palate and a blast of syrupy sweet red fruits. Kept a glass around for a few flights and revisited it... 30+ minutes did wonders. Palate became more harmonious and opulent. Also added an intriguing exotic and musky quality. NR to 85 to 91. Quite a progression and I'm not convinced it wasn't still heading upwards when it got jettisoned.
June 16, 2008 - Rich flavorful Grenache. Great nose full of strawberry and a bit of pepper. Very fruit forward with strawberry and and leather tastes with a medium bodied finish. Very enjoyable.
April 20, 2008 - Excellent Grenache! Hints of leather and tabacco with well balance jammy fruit.
March 17, 2007 - Rich Nose of Strawberry Jam. Some Earthy, Mushroom scents. Rasberry preserves and Amaretto. Powerful and complex nose. Rich, liquide velvet entry on the palate -- Ripe Red fruits. Turns bright on the sweet lingering finish that features strawberries. This is bigger and more complex than the recent Outpost Grenache we opened. 92+
after tasting and taking notes we printed off three professional reviews and (seperately) scores. We had to choose a review AND a score that most closely resembles ours... interesting exercise. WS seems way off on this one... WA score seems low... my experience seems pretty closely aligned with Tanzer.
December 28, 2005 - Absolutely delicious. Exotic, complex nose. Sappy and lush, but impeccably balanced. Very long and complete wine. Best American grenache I've ever had.