Community Tasting Notes 9

• Diane (LI) wrote:

  December 2, 2023 - My first Beta from Vare Vineyard, and I have to say I like this even more than Montecillo. It’s old school Napa that I love. Cherries, raspberries, florals, a little herbal, it’s an elegant wine. Tannins are surprisingly velvety, and the ribeye we had with it elevated the enjoyment of the wine. No rush to drink this, but it is damn good now.

  3 people found this helpful Comment

• Wine G Likes this wine: 96 points

  November 14, 2023 - Wow , this is so delicious and aromatic, quite a light expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. Next to a Lynxh Bages ( albeit 2018 but don’t get me wrong the Bages was excellent in-its own right), this beta cab is more aromatic, less alcoholic and equally savory on the palate. In a good sense the Beta wine did Not have any of that strong licorice note on the nose. Quite a good wine again , thanks Ketan!
  
  Day 3 note : still going strong , tons of violets aromatically and while 12.5% alc it’s fairly long and lingering with a lighter touch almost tart sorta cab finish. Great stuff

  2 people found this helpful Comments (5)

• michigan dogs Likes this wine: 98 points

  June 14, 2022 - This was Bob's treat. What a wine, my highest score of the year. strong nose, floral, Bob mentioned violets. very balanced with good acidity and definately nice fruit. Some posters mentioned that it was light, I did not get that impression, although it is only 12.5% alcohol. I loved it...

  6 people found this helpful Comments (1)

• Pinotfanbg Likes this wine: 94 points

  June 12, 2022 - Intense scent of violets. Started a bit thin in body but really picked up weight with air. Great balance of fruit acidity and fine tannins. Special wine that is light, but very flavorful with amazingly well integrated acidity. Only 12.5% etoh!

  2 people found this helpful Comments (4)

• Rbhan12 Likes this wine: 94 points

  March 11, 2022 - Decanted for 2 hours, into BDX-style glass.
  
  The color is a true ruby with a rim that is shows some lightening. The nose is perplexing. There is a red-purple floral character, and the underlying fruit is definitely Cabernet in character. Nonetheless, it stays light and elegant on its feet. Swirling the glass emphasizes a violet-purple flower tone I have often found in Gamay from Morgon, but also brings some crushed white rock and leather. The palate is decidedly medium body. The fruit elegantly glides in a rather weightless fashion. I get ripe crushed raspberries, fresh blackberries, and maybe even some dark cherries. The tannins can be missed if you don't look for them, but they are there and extremely well integrated. The finish is a continuity of the acid and fruit from the palate, that transitions more into a floral-rocky note.
  
  I want to be clear: this is *not* Napa Cabernet. This is an expression of a single-vineyard in Napa, and an expression of the winemaker's style. To understand this wine and appreciate it at its fullest, I believe you have to know Ketan's story and his ethos. It is elegant, ethereal, haunting, bringing you back for more to try to delineate and define this wine.
  
  Drink now with a 4h decant, or hold for 5-7 years.

  3 people found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2016
• Type Red
• Producer Beta
• Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Vare Vineyard
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Oak Knoll District

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 1 (0%)
• In Cellars 358 (88%)
• Consumed 46 (11%)

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