2016 Betz Family Winery 'Clos de Betz' Red Blend Columbia Valley

Winemaker Notes: The 2016 Clos de Betz displays a brilliant magenta rim leading to a ruby core. The aromatic fireworks shout Merlot: black cherry, pomegranate and cocoa powder leap from the glass, with leather, tobacco, sage and black pepper coming out with time and air. The palate shows Washington Merlot’s characteristic weight and density while expressing the freshness and detail of the vintage. Flavors of black and red raspberry, plum, anise and dried orange peel lead into a savory, long-lived and mouthwatering finish. This Clos de Betz would be right at home amongst its siblings in the Right Bank of Bordeaux, combining intensity, vibrancy and structure for terrific cellar potential.

Blend: 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "Classically merlot plums and mulberries with some darker, graphite-like notes, as well as baking spices. The depth here is stunning, it has a very sleek and assertive palate with abundant plums and mulberries. A blend of 70% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 15% petit verdot. Try in three to five years."


Jeb Dunnuck - "Moving to the 2016s from bottle, the 2016 Clos de Betz is 70% Merlot and 15% each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows how strong this vintage was for Washington and is the finest example of this cuvée to date, offering up medium to full-bodied notes of blue fruits, violets, blood orange, and spring flowers. It’s seamless and layered on the palate, with terrific purity, and while it’s already drinking great, it’s going to keep for 15 years or more."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2016 Clos de Betz is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Wafting from the glass, the silky red fruit has a subtle spiciness and a note of rich, dusty flowers on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, dusty plum and just-ripe fruit tones dance across the palate with elegance and ease, showing balanced acidity and a complex, layered expression. It ends with a long, grippy and focused sensation on the finish, revealing a very special wine that will last for years to come. It's delicious now, but you will reward your future self by cellaring this for at least 10 years. 950 cases were produced. Range: 94+. "