97
points
Betz Family Winery 2005 Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$55
The fragrance is almost otherworldly; sweet, dense and lightly lifted. This is a sinewy wine, that begins with compact power and focused, tart red fruits—predominantly raspberry and currant. At first juicy and tart, with hours of breathing time the wine broadens out into a wider spectrum of Cabernet fruits; cassis, blackberry and black cherry.
— P.G.
(8/1/2008)
95
points
Betz Family Winery 2005 Clos de Betz Red Wine (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$40
The 2005 Clos de Betz explodes from the glass with profound scents of pipe tobacco, violets, cherries and clove. Immediately supple and silky, this delicious blend of 56% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 9% Cabernet Franc offers more complexity than any Clos de Betz to date. Silky, tightly packed fruit flavors are seamlessly blended, with berries…
— P.G.
(8/1/2008)
95
points
Betz Family Winery 2003 Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$45
Firm, chewy, young, tight and yet quite supple and fulfilling, this stunning Cabernet is packed with a rainbow of fruit flavors—blueberry, black currant and black cherry—that open into a seamless, beautifully proportioned wine. The scents and flavors run the gamut from citrus peel to clove to oy to chocolate, espresso and beyond.
— P.G.
(6/1/2006)
94
points
Betz Family Winery 2004 La Cote Rousse Syrah (Red Mountain)
-
$45
This Côte Rousse has really pulled itself together. It’s a subtle wine but offers perfectly ripened, silky, beautifully proportioned flavors of mixed fruits, highlighted with Rhône-like notes of mineral, forest floor, truffle and smoke. This is the good funk—the exotic nuances that come only from the most sensitive winemaking. A vin de garde, this should evolve…
— P.G.
(3/1/2007)
94
points
Betz Family Winery 2005 La Serenne Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$50
This 100% Syrah, all from the Boushey vineyard, sends up fragrances of sweet fruit, moist earth, leaf and smoked meat. Nuanced and evocative, this changes minute to minute in the glass. The mouthfeel can only be called voluptuous, wrapping the generous blue and purple fruit flavors in sweet, toasty oak. The alcohol is just under 15%, but the fruit carries it…
— P.G.
(5/1/2008)
94
points
Betz Family Winery 2002 La Serenne Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$41
Dense and plush with exotic scents of roasted coffee, smoke, toast, cedar and blackberry jam, this is very young, showing mostly primary fruits and lots of new wood. But the ripe, sappy fruit, from an exceptional block in the Boushey vineyard, stands out, seamless and pure. Like a racehorse, this wine is sleek, powerful and perfectly proportioned. It offers immense…
— P.G.
(12/15/2004)
93
points
Betz Family Winery 2004 La Serenne Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
-
$45
The Boushey Vineyard is the source for this Syrah, which once again delivers complex aromas and flavors whose ebullient mix includes wild herb, citrus, spiced plum, posh cherry and luscious vanilla cream. It’s killer juice, thick with tar, smoke and bacon fat; but its vivid citrus peel acidity lifts it until it soars. This is seamless, sensuous and thrilling Syrah.
— P.G.
(3/1/2007)