2017 Clos de Betz
Regular price $480.00Clos de Betz honors Bob and Cathy Betz’s earliest dreams of starting a winery. In 1973, they stood before one of the foremost temples of French Pinot Noir, the Burgundian vineyard Clos de Beze, struck by the profound way it could exemplify both a sense of place and the purity of its variety. They resolved that they would one day produce a wine that manages to convey that ever so elusive but magical marriage of site character and varietal expression. Washington Merlot, with its singular dance of weighty richness and structured minerality, provided the perfect canvas and has formed the core of Clos de Betz since its first vintage in 1998.
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. Perhaps the richest, most extroverted Clos de Betz of the last decade, 2017 still shows plenty of stuffing to support a long life ahead.
Wine Specifications
- Vintage: 2017
- Appellation: Columbia Valley
- Alcohol: 13.7%
- Region: Washington
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Acclaim
"Moving to the Bordeaux blends from 2017, these were all tasted as barrel samples. The 2017 Clos de Betz is mostly Merlot and includes 21% Petit Verdot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small amount fermented in concrete; it will spend 19 months in French oak. This medium to full-bodied, pure, polished barrel sample has classic notes of smoked black cherries, pencil lead, graphite, and earth. It’s beautifully balanced." 94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
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Winemaker notes
The 2017 Bésoleil manages to nimbly walk a tightrope between power and elegance. The brilliant ruby color promises the aromatic fireworks to follow; strawberry preserves, pomegranate and red raspberries, white and black pepper, freshly ground nutmeg, rose petals and potpurri. The silky palate expands into orange rind and hibiscus. Although supple and layered, there is bright acidity throughout that maintains both focus and freshness. The finish is lively and lengthy with pronounced mineral and dried herb notes. Delightful now, Bésoleil will continue to gain breadth and nuance over the next 7-10 years.
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Product notes
60% Merlot, 21% Petit Verdot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon