Betz Family Winery, La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley

Maybe intended, but the Bret never blew off and marred the otherwise classic Syrah flavors.

2014 vintage

Still requires 2-3 hours of air. Better on second night.

2014 vintage

Definite strong performer in a blind syrah tasting with 5 other Washington syrahs. Our crowd was split between Rocks afficiandos and those who prefer a more subtle style with this one being an early favorite after a two hour decant. More refined nose and smooth as silk.

2014 vintage

In a perfect spot right now as a PnP. Delicious!

2011 vintage

Decanted for sediment. Dark crimson color. Nose of blueberry cobbler, violet, black pepper and a bit of toasty oak. Similar flavors on the palate with a surprising amount of ripe, juicy fruit left in a 14 year old wine. Good acidity as well. Tannins mostly resolved with a smooth mouthfeel. Not as complex as the 2009 Copain Hawkes Butte drank alongside it but still quite a tasty bottle of syrah.

2008 vintage

I agree with the previous post. Day 1 aeration required, day 2 more interesting. However I would let them mature another 2ish years, acids, tannins and fruit are balanced. Just need more time.

2014 vintage

Still drinking very well. Seep ruby color with hints of spice and a smooth finish.

2008 vintage

This really takes a lot of air. First day with hours open didn't show much. Second day a little more interesting.

2014 vintage

At a good stage, drink now - 2023.

2014 vintage

Nose: covid on and off Taste: Raisins and earth, some limestone. Definitely very different but smooth with no tannins. I like it. A funky wine

2014 vintage

Dark ruby red color. Plum fruit flavors mixed with notes of spice and leather. Smooth rounded finish.

2008 vintage

Same as prior bottle from Aug 2020. Still taking about 90 min to open. Still good on second night. No need to rush. Three bottles remaining.

2014 vintage

I don’t love the green lush leaf, green bell pepper taste and smell. It’s smooth, and it gets the salty meat, leather and pepper that I like. Very well balanced on the palate. It’s just the green leaf I don’t love. Medium body, - acidity.

2014 vintage

Great savory syrah with earthy tobacco and smoke along with blue fruit tones. Full bodied but not as plush and thick as some more fruit driven syrahs seem to be. Wish I had a few more of these...

2008 vintage

Plum, dark fruit, leather, earth notes. Full bodied, with nice structure. One of the nicer bottles I’ve had from this winery.

2008 vintage

Outstanding wine!

2008 vintage

A medium bodied wine that paired well with smoked pork chops. Drink now-2021.

2011 vintage

Similar to prior bottle - takes about 90 min of air time to open. In a nice spot.

2014 vintage

Delicious, very smooth, maybe losing a little bit of zip in terms of acidity and tannins, drying a little. Fruit is still there, but not as boisterous as a few years ago. Drink up.

2011 vintage

Drank my last bottle with a pork sirloin tip roast. Still delicious but starting to fade. Still plenty of fruit but more muted than earlier bottles. I would say drink up.

2008 vintage

Needed a little time to open up, but when it did, it was enjoyable. Lots of dark fruit; blackberries, blueberry preserves, toast and black licorice. Nice, but not a long finish.

2014 vintage

A fabulous Syrah that is perfectly balanced and smooth as can be. In a great place that will only go down in my opinion.

2011 vintage

Continueing to drink through a case of 2011's. This bottle consistent with others in delivering a nice glass of wine without overpowering the drinker.

2011 vintage

No detailed notes. Recall are a deep, dark wine with with virtually no fading, a soaring nose of Asian spice, and a complete mouthfeel with a good balance of fruit and acidity. Lovely.

2008 vintage

Rather a disappointment. Not much fruit. No hint of bad bottle. Certainly not worth the wait in my cellar all these years. My other experience with Betz cuvees has been uniformly good.

2011 vintage

Washington State Tasting (John's House Bloomington, MN) : Dark fruits, stone, floral and earth elements. Picks up some nice violets on the finish. Medium to long finish. Very balanced and concentrated wine. Drink now to 2022.

2008 vintage

Soft and subtle. Blackberry, herbs, pepper and tobacco with a slight vegetal edge. Has evolved into a very old world style. Simple and with an austere band that runs throughout. Seems somewhat disjointed and lacking in anything that really impresses.

2011 vintage

Medium bodied, with notes of ripe plum and tar. Aging gracefully, silky smooth tannins on the finish.

2008 vintage

Drinking beautifully, over 2 nites. No formal TN, but black fruits, tar, pepper, licorice. Not a fruit bomb, well-played. Drink now through 2022 or so. Quite nice.

2008 vintage

Finally has come around. But not worth the wait.

2011 vintage

Short decant. In a good place. Blackberry jam and other fun things.

2014 vintage

Showing no signs of fading. This wine has a long way to go. Very dark. No bricking at edge. Perfect balance between fruit and tannins. Very full bodied. Nice fine grained tannins are a perfect foil for the dark berry fruits. Long finish.

2008 vintage

This one took a while to open up (somewhat surprisingly). Some graphite, blueberry, raisins and flowers on the nose. Quite well-balanced on the palate. Medium finish.

2011 vintage

While I love Bob Betz wine, this one is either in a funk or needed a long decant. Solid nose - something funky mid palate and an ok finish. Hmmmm...

2011 vintage

Violet in color. 13.9% ABV. With considerable coaxing, black fruits, olives, game and flowers emerged on the nose. Big and full bodied with ample acidity. Dark and brooding. Blackberry, boysenberry, cassis and pepper on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long. Tremendous Syrah from a challenging vintage. Ready to go with a long decant and best over the next 2-4 years.

2011 vintage

90 min decant. Opened nicely. Can drink this now or hold.

2014 vintage

A year sideways has relaxed and stretched out the palate making it a little nicer to drink, but I really don’t find the material here to see this being a long runner - it’s probably peaking now. Again the big deposit of sediment, so decanting is a must.

2011 vintage

Wow! Bright deep ruby red color. On the palate wonderful scrumptious flavors and a length that is impressive. We enjoyed with a Bolognese sauce.

2011 vintage

I let this wine breathe in a decanter for about 1 hour and the wait paid off. Dark cherry with some smoke and a hint of funk. Delicious!

2014 vintage

Drank over two nights. Really coming along nicely now. Still a little rough right after opening, but within an hour or two it started to develop with a nice bouquet, medium body and rich fruit on the palate. Much better on night 2!

2011 vintage

Had this with pork tenderloin. The wine continues to deliver delicious dark fruit notes with an integrated flavor profile. Drinking at peak.

2008 vintage

Decanted unfiltered to reveal a considerable amount of sediment. Didn't read my previous note, i guess. I saved a half bottle for day 2 and it was really nice and looked prettier.

2011 vintage

Another nice showing, dark and ripe with black fruits and a hint of smoke and meat. Deep blackberry fruit with the same smokey meaty complexity. Excellent finish, drinking really well.

2008 vintage

Followed over two nights, though it changed little after the first hour open. Medium ruby color, dense to the rim with slow, clear legs and heavy sediment. Light to medium powered nose of black currant, rose, mossy rocks, leather. Palate delivers red berry and nice pepper spices, firmly supported with acidity and fuzzy, gentle tannins. Clean, medium length finish. This was consumed back-to-back after a 2011 Avennia Boushey and the difference is quite dramatic. This is the more feminine and …

2011 vintage

Tight, primary and rather unexpressive, I think it was a poor choice to open this. Ah well, live and learn.

2014 vintage

Lovely showing for this one, well balanced and nicely ripe. Plum, dark cherry and currant fruit, well balanced and ripe with sweet resolved tannins and a nice smooth finish. Delicious!

2008 vintage

Unmistakeable Bouschey with tar, smoke intensity on nose and a little touch of funk 40% whole cluster makes for a cool texture, softness within a firm structure. Plump and juicy with savoury core

2014 vintage

Decanted 4 hours. That was right amount of air. Wine still solid next day too... A big sturdy juicy wine. New world in style but not overdone. Day one: black fruit prominent with minerality, oakiness and slight heat from alcohol present. Day two: alcohol and oakiness gone, spices and tobacco have emerged. Almost tastes like a sauvage styled Malbec. It's a fast sturdy American roadster that tips its cap to a European heritage. Won't remember it as special 5 years …

2008 vintage

Smooth, silky, perfect drinking window right now.

2008 vintage

Ran through the Menu decanter and then back into the bottle. Smelled outrageously of vanilla upon opening. Once we decanted it, it tamed down quite a bit, but WOW serious vanilla. Roasted meat, pepper, black fruit and vanilla on this one. Tannins kicked in about the 1 hour mark. Surprising for a 2008 to still be kicking this hard, but well, it IS a Betz...Lots of life left, drink now - 2025.

2008 vintage

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Betz Family Winery, La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley

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