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.
Crimson in color. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. 14.4% ABV. Powerful nose of cassis liqueur, molten licorice and menthol. Rich, plush and full bodied. Currants, cassis, mint and cocoa on the palate. The finish is exquisite on this exceptionally well crafted wine. Betz wines age well and the tannins here are ever present. That being said this wine is in a great place and should continue to develop for another 3-5 years.
My rating: 94 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 2012 was released this past Spring.
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