Bottle Notes, Merlot

2009 Betz Family Clos de Betz – Bottle Notes

Betz Family Winery was founded in 1997 by Bob & Cathy Betz. Critical acclaim from local and national wine publications has put Betz Family Winery at the forefront of Washington wines alongside Cayuse, Leonetti and Quilceda Creek. The winery was sold to Steve and Bridget Griessel (with Bob Betz remaining on as the winemaker), and I fully expect quality will remain high for years to come.

Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. 65% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Primary nose of black fruits, plums and licorice. Great acidity and minerality. The palate is loaded with cherries, currants, chocolate, plums and toasty oak. Supple tannins and a long finish. The wine needs at least another 2-4 years in the cellar.

My rating: 92 points.

I’ve followed Betz from the start and still have bottles dating back to the ’02 vintage. I am confident these wines will age as gracefully as the likes of Woodward Canyon and Quilceda Creek.

I understand the mailing list is full, although I suspect the wait isn’t too long. Fortunately, the wine is readily available all over Seattle almost year-round. The 2011 was just released and runs about $55.

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