2018 Clos de Betz

The 2018 Clos de Betz is composed of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. In the glass, the wine is brilliant dark ruby with a firm ruby edge and opens to a nose that is full of red fruit tension and aromas of black raspberry, black plum, dark cherry and spiced red potpourri. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is silky with firm tannins and a balanced structure. The wine continues with flavors of dark cherry essence and a soft smoky tone across the lingering finish. It’s a delicious wine that will be approachable upon release, but don’t feel rushed to drink it right away—it has finesse and will age beautifully....

Robert Parkers Wine Advocate: 94+ Points

Clos 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 grape variety. They resolved that they would one day produce a wine that manages to convey that ever 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.

In the glass, the 2018 Clos de Betz shows a deep, ruby color leading out to a bright magenta rim. The aromatics are pronounced and demonstrative of its Merlot dominance; high-toned red cherry, black plum and pomegranate teased with inviting notes of cedar, anise and floral potpourri. As the wine gets air, further savory complexity emerges with worn leather, fresh tobacco and dried herbs. The palate dances between finesse and power, with plenty of density and concentration. Flavors of black and red raspberry, cocoa powder, hoisin and orange zest lead into an intense, lengthy and precise finish. Rich, deep and elegant, this is absolutely beguiling now, but has plenty of years of graceful life ahead.