Washington State was a little late to the U.S. wine-making scene; while California hit its stride in the late 1960s, there were just two wineries in Washington. But over the past fifty years, the state has drawn notable winemakers from across the US and also the world – many of whom are committed to a small production of high quality wines. The Betz Family Winery is certainly one such example. Here, we offer the 2012 Clos de Betz, Betz Family Winery, Washington State at £395 per twelve bottle case in bond – frankly a very favourable price compared to the wider market.
The Betz Family Winery was founded in 1997 by Bob Betz MW, after numerous trips to various winemaking regions in Europe. Bob remains firmly involved as the consultant winemaker although ownership has since passed on to Steve and Bridgit Griessel. Steve and Bridgit settled in Washington the way that many winemakers do; having grown up around the vineyards of South Africa, they were searching for a new venture that could combine their passion for winemaking and their business acumen.
It is the eastern part of Washington that the vast majority of winemaking takes place. The Cascade Mountains act as a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and allow for ideal growing conditions; although winters are cold, there is an average of 300 sunny days per year and summers are hot and dry. Betz boast two vineyards in Walla Walla, although the majority of vines are co-farmed rows or blocks with some of the most respected growers in Columbia Valley. 2012 was an outstanding vintage; the long, warm summer and dry September meant that a steady harvest could take place in ideal conditions.
Nothing at Betz is rushed; the harvest is protracted to ensure full ripeness, fruit is pre-sorted and hand-picked in full clusters. Their wines are then matured in French oak barrels, from a handful of the top coopers.
The fruit for the Clos de Betz – a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot – is sourced from vineyards in the eastern part of Yakima Valley. At 325-400 metres elevation, the windy site has excellent drainage and a steep, south-eastern aspect. The area is very dry, with just 12cm of annual rainfall and soils are composed of Hezel sandy loam, silt loam and ancient riverbed.
Tasting several Betz wines earlier this week, I was struck by the poise that they offered. These are not over-extracted, statement-piece wines, instead there is a rare refinement on show, particularly at this level. The Clos de Betz exemplifies that character; silky, freshly-styled with a fine sense of purity; there is admirable depth of fruit with notes of dark berry and an juicy stone fruit to the fore. It is a fascinating glass of wine – it certainly exudes ripeness, but avoids any heady sensation. I was seriously impressed with the clarity and poise of this wine – it opened beautifully with time in the glass suggesting it will develop well over the next 10 years, though can equally be enjoyed now with sufficient decanting.
I include the note below for Jeb Dunnuck, who reviewed Rhône and the U.S. for The Wine Advocate prior to setting up his own site.
2012 Clos de Betz, Betz Family Winery, Washington State
(93-95) points, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
£395 per 12 bottle case in bond
Tasted as a barrel sample and Betz’s take on a right bank Bordeaux, the 2012 Clos de Betz is 67% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot. Inky-purple in color (has anyone seen a Betz wine not inky purple?), if offers impressive cassis, plum liqueur, spring flowers and underbrush-style aromas and flavors to go with a mouth-filling, layered and voluptuous style on the palate. I love the mid-palate here, and the tannin builds through the finish, so, while it should have plenty of up-front appeal, it should also evolve for 15+ years. As always, my visit with Bob Betz and Tyson Schiffner at Betz Family Winery (which has been owned by the Griessel family since 2011) is always one of the highlights of my trip through Washington. For the tasting at the domaine, we focused on the 2012s (I tasted the 2011s from bottle at my office in Colorado), and they are easily some of the greatest wines I’ve tasted from this estate to date. While these wines always have considerable structure and focused profiles, these 2012 have an extra dimension of depth and texture and should not be missed! Drink 2014-2029.
Please let us know of your interest; limited stocks available and this is something of bargain price….