Expressive immediately on PnP with polished aromatics. Evinces plum, black cherry, Maraschino cherry liqueur, violet, chocolate, high toned oak spice, dried roses, something between cedar and eucalyptus, light wood smoke, black walnut. This is round and sumptuous on the palate with a suave finish. Tannins are resolved with a vibrant acidity providing the framework and coherence for the flavors. But it's time to drink up.
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This could last a couple more years but is in a good place right now. The majority liked this one better than ‘07 but I liked the nuances of the earlier bottle.
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Rich juicy dark berries, combined with notes of tobacco, spice, and faint char and pepper. A touch of heat, but not excessive. This wine is juicy and enjoyable without being one dimensional. Finish is longer than expected as well. Bonus!
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5th of 6 bottles, last consumed 1.5 yrs ago. Lovely Right Bank Bdx Blend, showing black cherry and ripe plum fruit, alongside cacao, fire embers, and espresso grounds. Tannins are resolving nicely, this wine shows a velvety presence on the palate and a long and well-defined finish. Drink through 2024 or so, very nice.
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Drinking well - and certainly not past it’s prime. Would agree not super complex but wasn’t it expecting it to be, but delivers what one would hope. Medium-llong finish. Still plenty of taste notes available.
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Drinking beautifully, very soft tannins, deep berry flavours and lovely long finish. Not overly complex but really showcases the blend. Very fresh and will probably hold up a few more years without gaining any further complexity. Open at least 3 hours prior to drinking.
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Decanted, poured & consumed. This wine is fully mature & not overly complex. Chocolate coated black cherry fruit with lavender & violet notes on the nose. Still has a dense chewy palate but soft & plush. Not overly complex, but enjoyable.
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For me this is at its peak. Dark, rich complex nose of coffee grounds, concentrated cherry compote. Very attractive. Palate is rich, yet restrained with a linear flavor profile that goes straight down the center of my tongue and leaves the edges untouched. The finish is long and delicious. Really enjoyed this with a prime beef pot roast. The pairing was damn near perfection. Would buy again.
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From magnum - showing beautifully, well balanced, smooth tannins with ripe blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Not super complex, but really drinking well.
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Nice surprise to find a 2008 regular size bottle (still have a magnum), thought it might need to be drunk soonish. And in lieu of the heatwave in SoCal drank from cellar temp. All of this actually worked out OK ( a shocker for 2020 so far), wine was nicely mature, still with a bite of tannins and acidity but nice soft currant and blackberry fruit. Really very nicely balanced, maybe lacking some distinction or character, but for a red blend. Lovely!
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Bottle #3 of 6, last tasted 1 yr ago. Delicious Right Bank Bordeaux blend, with 63% Merlot and 25% Cab Sauv, using 65% new French oak. Tasty black fruit, with dark chocolate and espresso grounds, supported by chewy tannins and med acidity. Drink now through 2024+.
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Aromatically heavy on the nose, suggesting ample oak along with deep fruits. The palate is therefore a surprise, in that it has a surprising cut that keeps the experience from being monolithic and one-dimensional. More evolution on the palate from front to back than I had expected. More complexity. A seriously nice wine at what was (at point of purchase, $48) a good to great QPR. 94+ points.
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Beautiful color. Dusty red currant and cherry fruits lead the nose. A lively, lingonberry-esque brightness along with some Asian spices and a marked minerality. Rich and luscious on the palate with acid to lift it. Richly flavored and mouth-coating flavors of bright red berry fruit and sour cherry. Some white pepper and spice along with savory aromatic herbs provide some high notes for the darker bass notes of the rich fruit. The acid is rather self-cleansing, so the finish isn't super rich or long, however it keeps the zippier notes present. This wine is delicious right now and shows much more life ahead of it.
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Could be an off bottle but no obvious flaw. Large scalded, monolithic with dark plush fruit. Quite fine but prominent tannins on the palate give this the impression of drying out. Not nearly as expressive or aromatic as expected. Either closed or over extracted and past prime. Last bottle so I’ll never figure it out.
Oxideized abd hot on night 3 (not tasted on night 2). I would view this as a pressimisitic sign.
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Drank from magnum. Dark crimson color. Nose of black currant, black cherry and dark juicy plums with a bit of mocha. Similar flavors on the palate along with some woodsy cedar notes. Medium+ acid and tannin with a long, smooth finish. Drinking great right now.
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This is as ready as it can get. Very polished, no tannins to speak of ,it all so textural smooth but still with full acidic uplift . Lovely red berry flavors on tasre/smell , some obvious strawberry with red currant and just hint of cherry, all with a little zing. This wine speaks merlot , channels fruit but not terroir. So don't think about it, just enjoy it.
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Right bank Bordeaux blend. 63% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. Aged 16 months in French oak (65% new). 14.6% alcohol. PnP, this is bottle #2 of 6, last bottle was 1.5 yrs ago. Had a few glasses, TN to follow.
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This is in a great place right now. Dark fruits and a smooth finish that lingers forever. You could drink it now or over the next five years as I think this will continue to evolve.
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Deep black purple Minimal aromas On initial opening and over the next few hours, this seemed quite hard, harsh and thin. Rather ungenerous. Disappointed compared with other bottles, I held it and on day three, a bit more flavor, but still rather hard. Hopefully a bad bottle or simply a dumb phase
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From mag: very similar notes as 5 years ago but with the age taking some of the edges off. Still get the graphite on the nose. Wonderful opening flavors of plum, dark cherry. Tannins more muted than 5 years ago. I do. It get the oak others have mentions nor any heatness from the 14.6% abv. I feel this is drinking very nice now - 750s maybe in a sweet spot (I'll try to remember to pop one this year) but also think this has many more years.
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Very good Bordeaux blend from Washington state. Charcoal embers, ripened black cherry, cassis fruit, alongside a hint of mint. On the palate, well-balanced, echoing flavors from the nose. Shows off a moderately long finish, slightly ripe, but well reeled-in, and nicely balancing acidity to keep this wine fresh. Drink now through 2022+.
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Nicely concentrated and ripe but with good character and balance. Not overly expressive but tasty and long with a really nice finish. Drinking well, no rush, but this is in a really nice place.
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P&P. Black cherry, olive, green pepper, tobacco. Really well-made, and quite tasty. Day 2 this started to move into the plum side of dark fruit. Drink now - 2019/20.
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Over 4yrs from my last bottle. Much more approachable but still quite young. Nose of plums, milk chocolate, and coffee beans. Palate still has rather bright acidity, almost harsh, along with dark ripe fruits. A lot of depth here with the oak mostly integrated. Tannins present but integrated. Lengthy finish. Nice freshness despite the size. Drinkable now but more time would be best for this one as it really tightened up with air only showing more structure. A serious Merlot for sure.
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This was a tough wine to gauge. There was more sweetness to this bottle than I have had in my Betz Bdx-style wines, which was good. But, it's still a bit unyielding and dense. The black cherry, kirsch, and mineral flavors and aromas were there, but a bit muddled together. There is definitely some tannin up front still, suggesting that this will still benefit from more age. I'll hold my other for another 3 years.
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I may be getting more picky as time goes by, but hard pressed to rate this above 90. Not bad, just lacking fruit, acid, and balance to warrant a better score. Oak is predominant feature to my palate. (Drank from magnum)
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A dense, well-aged Washington Bordeaux blend. Dark red in color, with nice contrast on edges. Inviting nose of herbs and blackberry. Tastes of black cherry, cedar, leather, and tar. 14.6% alcohol. More old world than new. 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. May be a touch past its prime, but plenty of fruit still left.
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Initially very tight and tannic. The tannins didn't subside over the few hours we had this, but it does open up aromatically. Mostly hits the notes you would expect on this type of blend, but does it very well. Finish is very long. I would give this more time for the tannins to integrate, but it still shows its very enjoyable colors now.
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This wine is still pretty closed. The Merlot is there, but the Cabernet notes are still masked by the tannins. The finish is long and smooth, which suggests to me that as the tannis fade and the fruit starts to emerge, this wine is going to be very good.
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Although this is still young, the high proportion of Merlot allows for early drinking. This is plush, layered, and elegant, and benefits measurably with air (better on day 2). Blackberry, currant, licorice, stones. Even at this young age, the tannins are soft. Drink now, if you like 'em young. Otherwise, I'd hold for 3+ yrs.
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P&P. Nice rich color. LOts wet rock, mineral on the nose. Sharp red fruit notes. Few hours later this has presence, depth, weight, layers. Lots of rich flavores, dark red fruits, some deep puple notes. Lavender, green pepper. Lavender, dried hers on the nose now.
The finish is really nice, young well balanced wine. Firm tannins, bright juicy fruit. Some black tea in there.
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Merlot dominant (66%), this blend was lovely. Elegance and restraint. Royal dark plums and forest floor come across like a soft touch. Not too ripe, though the fruit is fantastic. Complex and well made, this is a true example of how killer Merlot can be when treated right. There isn't too much mocha or vanilla at all, but there's still that feminine side of Cabernet that I sometimes feel represents fantastic New World Merlot. This is a winner and is still so young. I feel if I gave this another five years or so the score would possibly be as much as two points higher. Excellent but let this come about in a few.
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Pop/pour. I'm surprised by how much this has evolved since I last tried it a year or so ago. Still quite primary, but no longer "hollow" on the mid-palate. This has really filled out. On the nose, dark and brooding, with a hint of bacon/meat alongside blueish fruits. On the palate, a similar impression. Dark, smoky, masculine, and not shy about the oak. Not as sweet as some in the genre. Some tannins creep in the more air this gets. While this is still a "hold" for me, I'm glad I popped this one tonight, as the trajectory was a bit of a surprise for me.
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First Betz I have opened. Started buying on a wine friends recommendation. Glad I did. Decanted about 90 minutes. Color is ruby red. Graphite obvious on the nose with a little eucalyptus and charcoal. This is infanticide to drink. Years young with tight tannins and seems closed down but but clearly a well structured wine. Old works structure and new world fruit profile. This will be interesting to try again...in 2015. This may warrant a higher rating.
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They're way too young but I popped one anyway. I had half last night but the best is always the second night on a Betz. They seem to need long decants when young, but at least they open up to beautiful wines. There is no mistaking these for anything other then Washington state, but the fruit is outstanding and the quality is always present. So be patient or decant over night, but you will Enjoy!!!
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Decanted for an hour. Hard for me to pin this down. If the nose is any indication, good things are in store. Relatively aromatic. Red and blue fruits including a whiff of blueberry, cassis and spice, and a nice bit of oak. On the palate, I don't get the tannins that others do. Instead, I get a mid palate that's closed to the point of seeming a bit hollow. A good dollop of oak. Given that, it's surprising how long the finish stays (pleasantly) on the palate.
I don't have a lot of experience with higher end Washington Bdx blends, and that makes it hard for me to understand or assess where this might go. I hope the hollowness goes away, the fruit fills out, etc. My guess is that all that will happen, though I've had a few 15 year old Quilcedas were still tight as a drum. For me, the optimism comes from the finish, long and alluring. If the mid palate can ever catch up, this will be a very nice wine.
I think it's a waste to open this bottle now, or for that matter sooner than 5 years from now (essentially 2017). That it's not ready is probably no surprise for anyone who knows this winery, but I had no experience with them. I've bought a few btls from this winery but never popped one....it seemed to be about time. It wasn't.
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Fine nose with lots of fruit and seemingly a touch of Pinot funk. Deep, dark colour in the glass. Long,medium legs. The tongue is currently overwhelmed by the tannins. It is a little early to be drinking this. But, there's clearly a lot going on. The finish is long. Pleasant despite the tannins. I'm going to order a few more of these and put them down for a while
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Not enjoyable at all at this point. Very strange, annoying, and not pleasant nose. Palate: Like drinking a wood barrel soaked in alchohol. $45.00/btl? I want my money back!
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After an hour in an open bottle, this wine still had a very reductive nose. It faded on night two, but was really distracting on night one.
The attack is almost all tannins. I'm not getting the smoothness and roundness that others are; they seem pretty harsh at present. I didn't get much fruit at all, the wine is almost entirely dominated by tannins and a touch of heat.
I didn't enjoy this at all right now. Perhaps with age it will get better. I sure hope so!
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Popped and poured. Initial nose had a great pure plum and currant nose, but this receeded with an hour of air leaving some shy red tinged fruit, and lots of toasty vanilla, but overall a rather shy nose. Palate is full of dense concentrated bright red fruit, with prominant teeth coating tannins and prominent bright acidity. Lengtyh creamy finish with some currant ans berries peeking through on the back end. More open and accessible the first hour, as it shut down with air. But has great pruity of fruit, quite acidic and tannic. This should be sensational, but will need in 5+yrs. Remarkable for its pure concentrated, but balanced fruit.
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(Opened for a glass 3 days ago, recorked, TN now) Opaque red, ruby at the rim. Great nose of sweet mix of red and dark fruit. A nice sweet vanilla note with a touch of menthol. On the palate rich dark fruit but excellent tannin structure and good acid. A black tea note from the slightly bitter tannin starts to take grip on the midpalate, a lot like black licorice. Long finish of that same tannin and great dark fruit. Good acid, mouth almost instantly watering. This is a delicious and really well-made wine that has the stuffing to age for a long time. 92+ points.
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Sure, this is quite tight and primary, but I found it giving significant early pleasure, nonetheless. Cherry rhubarb candy on the nose, along with a zinc cough drop element. In the mouth, extremely dense and a tad unyielding, but the lively bright purple fruit was worth a glance. Cranberry lozenge and mineral elements vibrate throughout the very long finish. 93+
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Day 3 and last glass in the bottle: Very smoothed out and very reminiscent of day 2. I think its gotten a little better over the past 24 hours. Drinking it very cool (45 min in the fridge to cool off) and the structure is very nice. Finish is easily lasting over 1 minute. Glass coating with a good mix of flavors going on at this point. Still not as much fruit as I like in my merlot based wines but that's going to be a personal palate thing. Overall I think this is better than the 05 and 06 but maybe not quite as good as the 07, though its probably about time to give the 07 another shot. After being disappointed on day 1 I feel like this has markedly improved over the last couple of days. I wont open another one for at least 12 months and will be very interested to see where this goes. I could see it moving up to maybe a 92 or so but Im not really seeing the 95 type scores that Jay Miller and Tanzer gave it.
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My first crack at either of the Betz 08 Bordeaux blends. Upon initial opening (pop and pour) very tight nose not giving up much. A little worrisome. After about 30 minutes in the glass starting to get some earth, dark fruit, wood & alchohol. Nose still seems very tight. First couple of tastes seem a little hot on the finish with some alcohol coming through on the back end. Maybe drinking it a little too warm. Very muted fruit up front with some wood, smooth, soft tannins. I'm more than a little worried given my past experience with the betz clos series. I really thought the 05 and 06s were underwhelming and the 07 was very good. The 08 is worrying me after this initial glass but it may just be that it needs another year or so in the bottle. I'll post more reviews as I keep drinking it over the next couple of days. Day 2: After 24 hours open and cooled off for 30 min in the fridge to make sure it is not too warm here we go again. Nose much more open today, cant quite place what I'm smelling though its almost gamey/earthy smelling with some peppery smoke tones and with a little bit of very dark fruit in the background. The palate is opening up a little. Getting quite a bit of wood and not as much fruit as I would like. Very smooth tannins on day 2. So after 24 hours open would am still not thrilled but definitely better than the 05 and 06 versions. Maybe its just way too young but I do not like to spend 45 dollars and then have to stare at it for years waiting for it to become drinkable. Now onto glass 2 - starting to notice an annoying sour finish.
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I really can't rate this wine yet. I noticed at the winery release the wine was real tight. I decided to try a bottle at home and see if there was any difference. Still tight. Drank over a period of two days. Second day getting some plum on the nose but still the dusty tannins. This vintage needs some cellaring.
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Notes are from day 2 after re-corking. Nose: The bouquet is locked up pretty tight, barely giving off black currants, dark chocolate, olives, and tobacco leaves. Palate: Hint of black currants on the attack. Fresh acidity and loads of chewy, velvety tannins on the mid-palate. Tannins surge, setting up the finish, and the length, denseness, and precision of the finish, while not terribly expressive in terms of fruit flavors, is extremely impressive. There is stuffing and then some on this wine.
A score at this point wouldn't be representative of the flavors and quality of this wine, as it is clearly wound tight right now. Based on what I pick up right now though, I see this wine being seriously, extremely good down the line. 7-8 years down the line I would think... This is my first foray into the Betz line and I see myself picking up a case of each blend next time around.
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Count this among the biggest case of wine infanticide I've ever done. This has all the right stuff and promises to be excellent, but all is still buttoned up pretty tight, even on night 2. Try again in...oh...2017+
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This was only bottled a few months ago and won't be released until next spring. It is showing quite firm and structured at this stage, relatively reticent. There are mounds of the usual black fruit and Merlot love, but they are locked up for now. Very nice aromatics with a sort of pine-forest fresh breeze element with nice resin notes. I suspect this will unfold considerably before release next spring.
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7/23/2023 - MindMuse wrote: 93 Points
Expressive immediately on PnP with polished aromatics.
Evinces plum, black cherry, Maraschino cherry liqueur, violet, chocolate, high toned oak spice, dried roses, something between cedar and eucalyptus, light wood smoke, black walnut. This is round and sumptuous on the palate with a suave finish.
Tannins are resolved with a vibrant acidity providing the framework and coherence for the flavors. But it's time to drink up.
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9/15/2022 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 90 Points
This could last a couple more years but is in a good place right now. The majority liked this one better than ‘07 but I liked the nuances of the earlier bottle.
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9/10/2022 - dankrems wrote: 92 Points
Rich juicy dark berries, combined with notes of tobacco, spice, and faint char and pepper. A touch of heat, but not excessive. This wine is juicy and enjoyable without being one dimensional. Finish is longer than expected as well. Bonus!
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8/15/2022 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
5th of 6 bottles, last consumed 1.5 yrs ago.
Lovely Right Bank Bdx Blend, showing black cherry and ripe plum fruit, alongside cacao, fire embers, and espresso grounds.
Tannins are resolving nicely, this wine shows a velvety presence on the palate and a long and well-defined finish.
Drink through 2024 or so, very nice.
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6/11/2022 - Henbest Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well - and certainly not past it’s prime. Would agree not super complex but wasn’t it expecting it to be, but delivers what one would hope. Medium-llong finish. Still plenty of taste notes available.
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11/25/2021 - johnnyo wrote: 85 Points
a bit past peak
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8/7/2021 - jcm87 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully, very soft tannins, deep berry flavours and lovely long finish. Not overly complex but really showcases the blend. Very fresh and will probably hold up a few more years without gaining any further complexity. Open at least 3 hours prior to drinking.
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7/13/2021 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Post Covid get together and it was the hit of the party.
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2/17/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
No formal TN, bottle #4 of 6.
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12/31/2020 - gbbwino wrote: 90 Points
Decanted, poured & consumed. This wine is fully mature & not overly complex. Chocolate coated black cherry fruit with lavender & violet notes on the nose. Still has a dense chewy palate but soft & plush. Not overly complex, but enjoyable.
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12/13/2020 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
For me this is at its peak.
Dark, rich complex nose of coffee grounds, concentrated cherry compote. Very attractive.
Palate is rich, yet restrained with a linear flavor profile that goes straight down the center of my tongue and leaves the edges untouched. The finish is long and delicious.
Really enjoyed this with a prime beef pot roast. The pairing was damn near perfection.
Would buy again.
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9/18/2020 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. Had with pizza
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9/14/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
From magnum - showing beautifully, well balanced, smooth tannins with ripe blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Not super complex, but really drinking well.
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8/20/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Nice surprise to find a 2008 regular size bottle (still have a magnum), thought it might need to be drunk soonish. And in lieu of the heatwave in SoCal drank from cellar temp. All of this actually worked out OK ( a shocker for 2020 so far), wine was nicely mature, still with a bite of tannins and acidity but nice soft currant and blackberry fruit. Really very nicely balanced, maybe lacking some distinction or character, but for a red blend. Lovely!
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3/14/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully right now.
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12/28/2019 - johnnyo wrote: 94 Points
Quite the Seahawk Fan favorite. Was gone before I knew it. The glass I had was excellent. Drank from a magnum
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12/24/2019 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 94 Points
This wine was just perfect! Still in a happy place, 11 years later
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11/26/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Bottle #3 of 6, last tasted 1 yr ago.
Delicious Right Bank Bordeaux blend, with 63% Merlot and 25% Cab Sauv, using 65% new French oak.
Tasty black fruit, with dark chocolate and espresso grounds, supported by chewy tannins and med acidity.
Drink now through 2024+.
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11/22/2019 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Aromatically heavy on the nose, suggesting ample oak along with deep fruits. The palate is therefore a surprise, in that it has a surprising cut that keeps the experience from being monolithic and one-dimensional. More evolution on the palate from front to back than I had expected. More complexity. A seriously nice wine at what was (at point of purchase, $48) a good to great QPR. 94+ points.
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11/1/2019 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 92 Points
A lovely wine. Drinking perfect now
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8/25/2019 - vegasoenophile Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful color. Dusty red currant and cherry fruits lead the nose. A lively, lingonberry-esque brightness along with some Asian spices and a marked minerality. Rich and luscious on the palate with acid to lift it. Richly flavored and mouth-coating flavors of bright red berry fruit and sour cherry. Some white pepper and spice along with savory aromatic herbs provide some high notes for the darker bass notes of the rich fruit. The acid is rather self-cleansing, so the finish isn't super rich or long, however it keeps the zippier notes present. This wine is delicious right now and shows much more life ahead of it.
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4/26/2019 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Could be an off bottle but no obvious flaw. Large scalded, monolithic with dark plush fruit. Quite fine but prominent tannins on the palate give this the impression of drying out. Not nearly as expressive or aromatic as expected. Either closed or over extracted and past prime. Last bottle so I’ll never figure it out.
Oxideized abd hot on night 3 (not tasted on night 2). I would view this as a pressimisitic sign.
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1/9/2019 - Atlantean wrote: 91 Points
Classic Merlot. Perfume on the nose. Sweet dark berry on the with a subtle but long finish.
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12/30/2018 - Rich S Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank from magnum. Dark crimson color. Nose of black currant, black cherry and dark juicy plums with a bit of mocha. Similar flavors on the palate along with some woodsy cedar notes. Medium+ acid and tannin with a long, smooth finish. Drinking great right now.
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12/11/2018 - megropolis wrote: 92 Points
This is as ready as it can get. Very polished, no tannins to speak of ,it all so textural smooth but still with full acidic uplift . Lovely red berry flavors on tasre/smell , some obvious strawberry with red currant and just hint of cherry, all with a little zing. This wine speaks merlot , channels fruit but not terroir. So don't think about it, just enjoy it.
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10/19/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
Right bank Bordeaux blend. 63% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot.
Aged 16 months in French oak (65% new). 14.6% alcohol.
PnP, this is bottle #2 of 6, last bottle was 1.5 yrs ago. Had a few glasses, TN to follow.
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10/14/2018 - skifree wrote: 88 Points
I was a tad disappointed in this bottle, as there were distinct vanilla oak notes that detracted along with the dark fruit, herb, and anise.
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10/14/2018 - npettit wrote: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly. Well done Betz
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6/13/2018 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
2 hour mark notes:
nose of dark fruit, coffee grounds, dark cherry compote, cassis
Palate is dark, rich, spicy (oak?), finish is long and dark and draws me back for more.
would buy again
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4/23/2018 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is in a great place right now. Dark fruits and a smooth finish that lingers forever. You could drink it now or over the next five years as I think this will continue to evolve.
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1/11/2018 - cos65 wrote:
Deep black purple
Minimal aromas
On initial opening and over the next few hours, this seemed quite hard, harsh and thin. Rather ungenerous.
Disappointed compared with other bottles, I held it and on day three, a bit more flavor, but still rather hard. Hopefully a bad bottle or simply a dumb phase
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12/24/2017 - Nbkat8 wrote: 92 Points
Give this about an hour minimum to open up, really good and lots more to go here. Drink now or hold.
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12/3/2017 - rfras Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep red color with ample red fruit flavors and some hints of graphite. well structured with a smooth finish.
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7/18/2017 - NTR wrote: 92 Points
From mag: very similar notes as 5 years ago but with the age taking some of the edges off. Still get the graphite on the nose. Wonderful opening flavors of plum, dark cherry. Tannins more muted than 5 years ago. I do. It get the oak others have mentions nor any heatness from the 14.6% abv. I feel this is drinking very nice now - 750s maybe in a sweet spot (I'll try to remember to pop one this year) but also think this has many more years.
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6/27/2017 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
Very good Bordeaux blend from Washington state.
Charcoal embers, ripened black cherry, cassis fruit, alongside a hint of mint.
On the palate, well-balanced, echoing flavors from the nose. Shows off a moderately long finish, slightly ripe, but well reeled-in, and nicely balancing acidity to keep this wine fresh. Drink now through 2022+.
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2/7/2017 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Nicely concentrated and ripe but with good character and balance. Not overly expressive but tasty and long with a really nice finish. Drinking well, no rush, but this is in a really nice place.
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11/25/2016 - RPerro Likes this wine: 92 Points
P&P. Black cherry, olive, green pepper, tobacco. Really well-made, and quite tasty. Day 2 this started to move into the plum side of dark fruit. Drink now - 2019/20.
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11/24/2016 - Stevethebeav wrote: 92 Points
Holding up very well. Awesome now.
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10/28/2016 - Atlantean wrote: 91 Points
Cssis black fruit and coffee bean. Still very tannic and early.
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5/23/2016 - Levinsb wrote:
Huge and intense. Feels a bit hot. Give it another year.
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5/9/2016 - oenophilemoose wrote:
Opened too early and then did not give a lengthy decant. Will wait 3 more years as the wine seemed primary and not fully evolved. My bad.
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3/27/2016 - lirvingham wrote: 93 Points
Loved this wine. Still hitting its peak but tasting great now. Coffee, cassis, chocolate covered cherries.
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1/12/2016 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Over 4yrs from my last bottle. Much more approachable but still quite young. Nose of plums, milk chocolate, and coffee beans. Palate still has rather bright acidity, almost harsh, along with dark ripe fruits. A lot of depth here with the oak mostly integrated. Tannins present but integrated. Lengthy finish. Nice freshness despite the size. Drinkable now but more time would be best for this one as it really tightened up with air only showing more structure. A serious Merlot for sure.
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12/3/2015 - Stevethebeav Likes this wine: 93 Points
This really surprised me. Heavenly nose, great balance and length. I have 2 more...not enough.
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10/29/2015 - kanab ram Likes this wine:
Opened up nicely after day two
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7/27/2015 - BRR Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a tough wine to gauge. There was more sweetness to this bottle than I have had in my Betz Bdx-style wines, which was good. But, it's still a bit unyielding and dense. The black cherry, kirsch, and mineral flavors and aromas were there, but a bit muddled together. There is definitely some tannin up front still, suggesting that this will still benefit from more age. I'll hold my other for another 3 years.
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7/21/2015 - bonedoc wrote: 89 Points
I may be getting more picky as time goes by, but hard pressed to rate this above 90. Not bad, just lacking fruit, acid, and balance to warrant a better score. Oak is predominant feature to my palate. (Drank from magnum)
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4/8/2015 - msuwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
A dense, well-aged Washington Bordeaux blend. Dark red in color, with nice contrast on edges. Inviting nose of herbs and blackberry. Tastes of black cherry, cedar, leather, and tar. 14.6% alcohol. More old world than new. 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. May be a touch past its prime, but plenty of fruit still left.
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12/6/2014 - topher2411 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Initially very tight and tannic. The tannins didn't subside over the few hours we had this, but it does open up aromatically. Mostly hits the notes you would expect on this type of blend, but does it very well. Finish is very long. I would give this more time for the tannins to integrate, but it still shows its very enjoyable colors now.
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8/9/2014 - Blue Shorts wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. In a great place right now.
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3/9/2014 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine is still pretty closed. The Merlot is there, but the Cabernet notes are still masked by the tannins. The finish is long and smooth, which suggests to me that as the tannis fade and the fruit starts to emerge, this wine is going to be very good.
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2/2/2014 - Haggis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Although this is still young, the high proportion of Merlot allows for early drinking. This is plush, layered, and elegant, and benefits measurably with air (better on day 2). Blackberry, currant, licorice, stones. Even at this young age, the tannins are soft. Drink now, if you like 'em young. Otherwise, I'd hold for 3+ yrs.
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12/17/2013 - tplskylrk Likes this wine:
P&P. Nice rich color. LOts wet rock, mineral on the nose. Sharp red fruit notes. Few hours later this has presence, depth, weight, layers. Lots of rich flavores, dark red fruits, some deep puple notes. Lavender, green pepper. Lavender, dried hers on the nose now.
The finish is really nice, young well balanced wine. Firm tannins, bright juicy fruit. Some black tea in there.
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6/12/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Merlot dominant (66%), this blend was lovely. Elegance and restraint. Royal dark plums and forest floor come across like a soft touch. Not too ripe, though the fruit is fantastic. Complex and well made, this is a true example of how killer Merlot can be when treated right. There isn't too much mocha or vanilla at all, but there's still that feminine side of Cabernet that I sometimes feel represents fantastic New World Merlot. This is a winner and is still so young. I feel if I gave this another five years or so the score would possibly be as much as two points higher. Excellent but let this come about in a few.
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5/1/2013 - ocperu wrote: 91 Points
Wait a bit longer if you can with this, but agree with others this has potential.
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2/7/2013 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
Pop/pour. I'm surprised by how much this has evolved since I last tried it a year or so ago. Still quite primary, but no longer "hollow" on the mid-palate. This has really filled out. On the nose, dark and brooding, with a hint of bacon/meat alongside blueish fruits. On the palate, a similar impression. Dark, smoky, masculine, and not shy about the oak. Not as sweet as some in the genre. Some tannins creep in the more air this gets. While this is still a "hold" for me, I'm glad I popped this one tonight, as the trajectory was a bit of a surprise for me.
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1/1/2013 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 90 Points
Nice potential. Hold.
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11/19/2012 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
A really satisfying bordeaux blend. Good complexity built around bell pepper and rich dark fruit.
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10/5/2012 - NTR wrote: 92 Points
First Betz I have opened. Started buying on a wine friends recommendation. Glad I did. Decanted about 90 minutes. Color is ruby red. Graphite obvious on the nose with a little eucalyptus and charcoal. This is infanticide to drink. Years young with tight tannins and seems closed down but but clearly a well structured wine. Old works structure and new world fruit profile. This will be interesting to try again...in 2015. This may warrant a higher rating.
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1/10/2012 - JeffE27 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still a little young, a very nice winetook a little decanting to open up
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1/7/2012 - deltacop wrote: 92 Points
They're way too young but I popped one anyway. I had half last night but the best is always the second night on a Betz. They seem to need long decants when young, but at least they open up to beautiful wines. There is no mistaking these for anything other then Washington state, but the fruit is outstanding and the quality is always present. So be patient or decant over night, but you will Enjoy!!!
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12/2/2011 - vanpe003 wrote:
Decanted for an hour. Hard for me to pin this down. If the nose is any indication, good things are in store. Relatively aromatic. Red and blue fruits including a whiff of blueberry, cassis and spice, and a nice bit of oak. On the palate, I don't get the tannins that others do. Instead, I get a mid palate that's closed to the point of seeming a bit hollow. A good dollop of oak. Given that, it's surprising how long the finish stays (pleasantly) on the palate.
I don't have a lot of experience with higher end Washington Bdx blends, and that makes it hard for me to understand or assess where this might go. I hope the hollowness goes away, the fruit fills out, etc. My guess is that all that will happen, though I've had a few 15 year old Quilcedas were still tight as a drum. For me, the optimism comes from the finish, long and alluring. If the mid palate can ever catch up, this will be a very nice wine.
I think it's a waste to open this bottle now, or for that matter sooner than 5 years from now (essentially 2017). That it's not ready is probably no surprise for anyone who knows this winery, but I had no experience with them. I've bought a few btls from this winery but never popped one....it seemed to be about time. It wasn't.
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11/18/2011 - Wineson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fine nose with lots of fruit and seemingly a touch of Pinot funk. Deep, dark colour in the glass. Long,medium legs. The tongue is currently overwhelmed by the tannins. It is a little early to be drinking this. But, there's clearly a lot going on. The finish is long. Pleasant despite the tannins. I'm going to order a few more of these and put them down for a while
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11/16/2011 - WaWineFan in TX wrote: 84 Points
Not enjoyable at all at this point. Very strange, annoying, and not pleasant nose. Palate: Like drinking a wood barrel soaked in alchohol. $45.00/btl? I want my money back!
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11/12/2011 - kanab ram wrote:
Decanted two hours. Dense, full, well balanced. Drinking excellent for its age and should only improve.
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10/3/2011 - Michael Davidson wrote:
Count me among the skeptics.
After an hour in an open bottle, this wine still had a very reductive nose. It faded on night two, but was really distracting on night one.
The attack is almost all tannins. I'm not getting the smoothness and roundness that others are; they seem pretty harsh at present. I didn't get much fruit at all, the wine is almost entirely dominated by tannins and a touch of heat.
I didn't enjoy this at all right now. Perhaps with age it will get better. I sure hope so!
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9/12/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 92 Points
Very nice Bordeaux blend with a larger merlot componet. Drinking nicely at present. Tannins smooth and fruit round in the mouth.
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6/1/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Initial nose had a great pure plum and currant nose, but this receeded with an hour of air leaving some shy red tinged fruit, and lots of toasty vanilla, but overall a rather shy nose. Palate is full of dense concentrated bright red fruit, with prominant teeth coating tannins and prominent bright acidity. Lengtyh creamy finish with some currant ans berries peeking through on the back end. More open and accessible the first hour, as it shut down with air. But has great pruity of fruit, quite acidic and tannic. This should be sensational, but will need in 5+yrs. Remarkable for its pure concentrated, but balanced fruit.
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4/26/2011 - DRod wrote: 92 Points
(Opened for a glass 3 days ago, recorked, TN now) Opaque red, ruby at the rim. Great nose of sweet mix of red and dark fruit. A nice sweet vanilla note with a touch of menthol. On the palate rich dark fruit but excellent tannin structure and good acid. A black tea note from the slightly bitter tannin starts to take grip on the midpalate, a lot like black licorice. Long finish of that same tannin and great dark fruit. Good acid, mouth almost instantly watering. This is a delicious and really well-made wine that has the stuffing to age for a long time. 92+ points.
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4/22/2011 - AdamWallstein wrote: 93 Points
Sure, this is quite tight and primary, but I found it giving significant early pleasure, nonetheless. Cherry rhubarb candy on the nose, along with a zinc cough drop element. In the mouth, extremely dense and a tad unyielding, but the lively bright purple fruit was worth a glance. Cranberry lozenge and mineral elements vibrate throughout the very long finish. 93+
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4/20/2011 - WaWineFan in TX wrote: 89 Points
Day 3 and last glass in the bottle: Very smoothed out and very reminiscent of day 2. I think its gotten a little better over the past 24 hours. Drinking it very cool (45 min in the fridge to cool off) and the structure is very nice. Finish is easily lasting over 1 minute. Glass coating with a good mix of flavors going on at this point. Still not as much fruit as I like in my merlot based wines but that's going to be a personal palate thing. Overall I think this is better than the 05 and 06 but maybe not quite as good as the 07, though its probably about time to give the 07 another shot. After being disappointed on day 1 I feel like this has markedly improved over the last couple of days. I wont open another one for at least 12 months and will be very interested to see where this goes. I could see it moving up to maybe a 92 or so but Im not really seeing the 95 type scores that Jay Miller and Tanzer gave it.
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4/18/2011 - WaWineFan in TX wrote:
My first crack at either of the Betz 08 Bordeaux blends. Upon initial opening (pop and pour) very tight nose not giving up much. A little worrisome. After about 30 minutes in the glass starting to get some earth, dark fruit, wood & alchohol. Nose still seems very tight. First couple of tastes seem a little hot on the finish with some alcohol coming through on the back end. Maybe drinking it a little too warm. Very muted fruit up front with some wood, smooth, soft tannins. I'm more than a little worried given my past experience with the betz clos series. I really thought the 05 and 06s were underwhelming and the 07 was very good. The 08 is worrying me after this initial glass but it may just be that it needs another year or so in the bottle. I'll post more reviews as I keep drinking it over the next couple of days.
Day 2: After 24 hours open and cooled off for 30 min in the fridge to make sure it is not too warm here we go again. Nose much more open today, cant quite place what I'm smelling though its almost gamey/earthy smelling with some peppery smoke tones and with a little bit of very dark fruit in the background. The palate is opening up a little. Getting quite a bit of wood and not as much fruit as I would like. Very smooth tannins on day 2. So after 24 hours open would am still not thrilled but definitely better than the 05 and 06 versions. Maybe its just way too young but I do not like to spend 45 dollars and then have to stare at it for years waiting for it to become drinkable. Now onto glass 2 - starting to notice an annoying sour finish.
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4/5/2011 - dleaf wrote:
I really can't rate this wine yet. I noticed at the winery release the wine was real tight. I decided to try a bottle at home and see if there was any difference. Still tight. Drank over a period of two days. Second day getting some plum on the nose but still the dusty tannins. This vintage needs some cellaring.
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3/25/2011 - gunpwdr wrote:
Notes are from day 2 after re-corking. Nose: The bouquet is locked up pretty tight, barely giving off black currants, dark chocolate, olives, and tobacco leaves. Palate: Hint of black currants on the attack. Fresh acidity and loads of chewy, velvety tannins on the mid-palate. Tannins surge, setting up the finish, and the length, denseness, and precision of the finish, while not terribly expressive in terms of fruit flavors, is extremely impressive. There is stuffing and then some on this wine.
A score at this point wouldn't be representative of the flavors and quality of this wine, as it is clearly wound tight right now. Based on what I pick up right now though, I see this wine being seriously, extremely good down the line. 7-8 years down the line I would think... This is my first foray into the Betz line and I see myself picking up a case of each blend next time around.
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3/8/2011 - shaneajohnson wrote:
Count this among the biggest case of wine infanticide I've ever done. This has all the right stuff and promises to be excellent, but all is still buttoned up pretty tight, even on night 2. Try again in...oh...2017+
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8/1/2010 - rodvanl wrote:
drank with Scott and Lynn. Served Lamb shank...perfect.
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7/13/2010 - Eric wrote:
This was only bottled a few months ago and won't be released until next spring. It is showing quite firm and structured at this stage, relatively reticent. There are mounds of the usual black fruit and Merlot love, but they are locked up for now. Very nice aromatics with a sort of pine-forest fresh breeze element with nice resin notes. I suspect this will unfold considerably before release next spring.
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