La Serenne

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Betz Family 2006 La Serenne Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection

Price $55

Toasty, dense, dark and complex, this is suffused with a complex mix of coffee, earth, butterscotch, cherry and mineral, with an underlayer of game, roasted almond, herb and earth. Still a baby, young and tight, it opens out with decanting, turning silky and supple. The balance is impeccable, and herbal nuances are preserved, despite the 14.7% alcohol. — P.G. (3/1/2009)

points

Betz Family 2007 La Serenne Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $55

This is 100% Syrah from the Boushey vineyard. It’s so compact that it’s almost impenetrable, but the gorgeous aromas portend a glorious wine given appropriate bottle age and/or breathing time. A dark, dusty mix of black fruits, black olives, black coffee and licorice, this has such density that it’s almost impossible to separate out all the fruit layers, let alone… — P.G. (12/31/2009)

points

Betz Family 2009 La Serenne Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $55

The best of the new Syrah releases from Betz, this massive wine, sourced from the outstanding Boushey Vineyard, packs tart black fruit into a tight frame of licorice-soaked tannins. There are traces of clean earth, light mineral and smoked meat, while the tannins are kept in close check. There’s terrific structure and poise in a wine of substantial power. — P.G. (4/1/2012)

points

Betz Family 2008 La Serenne Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Price $55

Among all the new releases from Betz Family, the La Serenne is the least approachable. Almost enigmatic in its reluctance to open, the wine remains stubbornly tight after a full 24 hours of breathing. The nose shows the barrel influences in a range of toast, coffee and mocha scents. Flavors bring black cherry, cassis, hints of black olive and a little brown sugar… — P.G. (4/1/2011)

points

Betz Family 2010 La Serenne Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Price $55

This is a difficult wine to analyze: Even after some hours of breathing time, it seems resolutely shuttered, tart and actually a bit on the thin side. Given the track record of both the producer and the vineyard, it was unexpected. Another taste on the second day showed promise. With time, the score could improve. — P.G. (12/31/2012)

Most Reviewed Varietals

Syrah

2010 W.H. Smith

How can a wine be softly appealing and yet brisk in acidity at the same…

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