2017 | Betz Family Winery | Clos de Betz

The 2017 Clos de Betz displays a brilliant magenta rim leading to a dark, ruby core. The aromatic fireworks scream Merlot: black cherry, pomegranate, licorice, and cocoa powder almost leap from the glass, with savory leather, tobacco, sage, and black pepper emerging with air. The palate shows Clos de Betz's characteristic weight and density in spades, expressing freshness with almost distilled richness and concentration. Flavors of black and red raspberry, dark chocolate, anise, and orange peel lead into a long, intense, and mouthwatering finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2017 Clos de Betz has a vibrant expression on the nose, with plush, generous fruit aromas and an underlying brooding tightness. Full-bodied on the palate, the fleshy, plump fruit tones deliver a velvety lushness over the mid-palate, then the wine becomes more dusty and rigid on the finish, ending with oak spices that linger. I will revisit this swine in 36 months, as I suspect it will show better at a later date. This will easily last a decade and more.

• James Suckling: This is really beautiful with chocolate and tile aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, round and polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Refined. Nice balance here. 60% merlot, 21% petit verdot and 19% cabernet sauvignon.

Producer Information

Betz Family Winery is a small Washington wine producer in the Columbia Valley viticultural area. It sources fruit through a number of partnerships in several of the regions sub-AVAs, dividing its catalogue between red Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style wines. The most prominent varieties are Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Petit Verdot, Merlot and Grenache. The winery was established by Bob and Cathy Betz, with the inaugural 1997 vintage a limited production of roughly 150 cases. Bob worked as the estate's winemaker, having previously spent decades working at the major Washington wine company Chateau Ste. Michelle, and also completing the Master of Wine program. In 2011 however, the Betzes sold the winery to the South African couple Steve and Bridgit Griessel, while remaining part of the management team. Bob stayed on as winemaker until 2016, and remains involved with the winery as a consultant. Betz is best known for its red wines inspired by the French regions of the Rhône and Bordeaux. Fruit is sourced from different partner vineyards in several regions of the Columbia Valley, namely Yakima Valley and its sub-region Snipes Mountain, Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills. In 2016, the Betz winery partnered with South African wine producers Carl van de Merwe and Wendy Appelbaum to make and release a Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc under the label Quinta Essentia. The wine's first vintage was 2015 and limited to 600 cases.

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.