Betz Family Winery, Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

4/5, 7 months after the third. This time singing off the pour, working really well with lamb chops while also excelling on its own. Still lots of fruit, more than ample structure left. My schedule didn’t work out well with this, so after drinking half the bottle on night #1, I was out for dinner on nights 2-3, although I had a half glass before going out on night 2, when it remained strong. On night 4, it was, alas, …

2006 vintage

2008 was actually a bit better than the 200; both drinking exceptionally. decanted for 6 hours will do 7 hours next time

2000 vintage

floral soft earth tannins

2000 vintage

3/5. I tend to drink most of my reds, other than CA pinots, with some age on them, so there’s a more of a concern that they may be long in the tooth than not ready. So, when I have a bottle or 2 in a row that seem post-peak, my first thought is, what might be next? Well, a 19 year old sub $100 cab would seem to fit that bill, even if it was drinking fine several months …

2006 vintage

good bottle only short decant needed The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.

2019 vintage

solid choice No decant need while having at dinner

2019 vintage

good bottle short decant medium finish and easy to drink

2019 vintage

Consistent with my previous note; drink by date of 2016 seems way early. This isn't going to get any better, but think it's still at a good place. Not what you'd hope from a "cult" wine, but still very nice drinking.

2000 vintage

First of 5 ($38.50) from a recent auction purchase. On the nose and palate, medium notes of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry and cassis, smoke, dry earth, mixed ground spice, minerality, salinity and a light touch of cedar. Deep maroon, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Medium/+ tannins and acidity which became more present, but not unpleasantly so, with time, no heat. VG+ complexity, persistence and intensity. If this was singing off the pour, it was definitely off key. The …

2006 vintage

Beautiful cab. Rich deep red fruit, forest floor and a little game make this special. Long lingering nose that goes and goes.

2019 vintage

Elegant as always. Blueberries and blackberries up front. Violets and cassis present too. Tannins well under control. Always a favorite. Went well with filet mignon.

2019 vintage

still a toddler, getting its balance and a bit wobbly on its legs. All the main components are there but needs time to stitch together. There's rich fruit on the nose but muted and smothered by tannin and alcohol. I'd lay down bottles for another couple fo years and still decant for an hour or so.

2019 vintage

Cork broke on opening. Decanted about 1 hour before serving. Virtually opaque garnet red color with very little brown at the meniscus. Classic, to my nose, aromas of ripe cabernet fruit but little or no complexity or secondary aromas. Rather monolithic on the palate as well though surprisingly hollow for a wine of such deep color. The wine was quite good just not exciting. Purchased on release and stored in my cellar since.

2006 vintage

I don't know who assigned a 2016 "drink by" date, but this is still fine. Maybe not cult-worthy, but nice balance, depth, flavors, etc. And from the maligned 2000 vintage. What's up with that? Fun to drink. Not getting any better, but still going fine.

2000 vintage

Whew! 9th and last bottle of a long night drinking. Consumed the other bottles in a group of 8-10 but this wine I drank with only 2 others. This was a PNP. I remember how impressed I was by this wine at the winery and tonight was no different. Most Washington wines I have drunk are bright and red fruited this wine was not that. This is a serious dark fruited wine that somehow still comes across as elegant. Your …

2019 vintage

Spectacular! Decanted 30min and then drank over 3 hours…might have started to tail off at the end, though, so might try to drink sooner rather than later…

2006 vintage

Beautifully smooth Columbia Valley cab. Rich red fruit with unctious tannins and a chewiness which is delightful. This is a great wine.

2019 vintage

Wonderful at Sahalee Prime Rib Night

2006 vintage

超过二十年的时光没有抹去开瓶浓郁的橡木桶痕迹。在甜美的香草气息散去后，成熟黑醋栗出现并占据主调，展现了健康、阳光和活泼的形象。随着醒酒，出现更多雪松木和薄荷的香气，后者让这款酒的形象变得更加鲜明——那种嚼着口香糖离开健身房之前，还会和每个熟面孔打一遍招呼的男人类型。这就是那种自身个性非常鲜明地呈现出来的酒，开朗而清爽。至于自己的形象是让人如沐春风还是过于卖弄，那就任由对方自行判断去了。

2000 vintage

Tasted at winery, paired with tortellini in tomatoe pesto. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% petit verdict 10% merlot. More of right bank blend than the clos de betz. Slightly darker ruby red. The nose is similar to the clos de betz, heavy on blackberry, but with a little blueberry coming through. Front - intense blueberry, quickly being overcome by the acidity and oak. Vermouth, menthol, licorice, touch of spice. A light sweetness continually lingering. Worth aging 10 years? It's delicious. So …

2019 vintage

Still dark in the glass with a small but well-defined meniscus. Sweet red fruit and some menthol on the nose. Very smooth and elegant on the palate, and then the red fruit jumps out - bright cherry mostly, good and tart. Some pleasant tannins appear on the finish. Was delish with rack of lamb - yum.

2006 vintage

From a mag and decanted for about 1 hour. Marvelous wine, absolutely fascinating. A "soft" vintage + 21 years of aging equals a dazzling Napa CAB!

2000 vintage

Last bottleof this wine shared with friends. Mature cab with an elegant flavor profile. Delicious. At peak.

2006 vintage

Corked. I think? Zero fruit after a 2-hour decant and had a faint musty smell out of the decanter. Not undrinkable but definitely off. Could be heat damage but no baked/roasted fruit flavors.

2006 vintage

Decanted for 2 hours, some leather, spome lingering fruit, integrated tannins. This wine is not getting better with time at this point. Put it with a big porterhouse and go for it no later than this autumn

2006 vintage

lovely

2000 vintage

Dark and brooding

2006 vintage

This rich but subdued wine is on the tail end of its drinking window, but its considerable integration and depth make up for its cool and condensed nature (read: lack of freshness and acidity, understandable at this age but worth noting). Garnet in color; full in body; aromas of dried cherry, sage, cardamon, and rose petals. Cool, somewhat condensed flavors of boysenberry, coffee bean, worn leather, and bay leaf, with a dusty and silky finish that seems a little heavy …

2000 vintage

Not decanted. Wow! My last bottle was in 2013 and this has improved even since that great showing. Beautifully sweet fruit (raspberry, cherry) is the focal point, with perfect balance. Zero heat, nice structure, but tannins are an afterthought at this point in its evolution. This is maturing slowly, but I think it's into its peak window and will stay there for, dare I say, 10 years or more. Absolutely delicious. THIS is why one ages Betz Bdx blends!

2006 vintage

Sooooo sooooo good. All the expected cab highlights and a unique floral or herbal note up front. All hail Bob Betz. Stunning Washington cab. Probably at peak.

2000 vintage

Drank my next to last bottle of this beauty last night at a WA and CA cab tasting. It was surprising how young tasting this wine was. Needed about an hour to open but still has concentrated and integrated fruit flavors. drink or hold.

2006 vintage

Very smooth. Still drinking well. But I would drink up.

2000 vintage

Purple in color. 14.5% ABV. Intense nose of black fruits, leather, graphite and scorched earth. Dark fruited and full bodied with strong acidity. Big and monolithic. Black currants, cassis, charred meats and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with copious fine grained tannins. Even at 13 years of age this wine still has a long life ahead of it. Best over the next 3-5 years.

2006 vintage

Amazing wine on day 2. First glass was 90 but improved substantially with time in the bottle. At peak but should be good for a few more years.

2000 vintage

amazing

2000 vintage

My first time tasting Betz. Nicely aged wine. Good QPR.

2000 vintage

POPPED AND POURED. Drank over 2 hours. Kept evolving. An outstanding WA cab.

2006 vintage

Popped and drank over 2 hours. Just got better. Drinking outstanding now and years left. Great Cab.

2006 vintage

Really good. Some nice secondary flavors, verging on tertiary. Still had some decent heft, showing the heat of the vintage. Nice texture and aromatics. I think this has some life left but I also like where it's at. It still has fruit, not too savory.

2006 vintage

Dark fruit, licorice, hints of vanilla & spice. Some tannins but slightly soft structure backing up delicious fruit. For my taste, will drink my other bottle within a few years

2006 vintage

Not a good showing. Feels shut down on opening, hollow and kirschy. It did mellow over a few hours but never really opened up.

2006 vintage

The last bottle was a fluke. This one was quite lovely.

2000 vintage

This bottle was dead. Not awful, bland and uninteresting. Cork broke partway through opening the bottle, but it still seemed to have been a good seal. I'm not sure what happened, but I'll try another bottle.

2000 vintage

This one still had prominent primary fruit of black currants and blackberries, though the tannins were very much integrated at this stage. But what really stood out unfortunately was the heat on this wine, a reminder that ‘06 was not a great vintage.

2006 vintage

This has aged quite nicely. Really enjoyed it.

2006 vintage

This was a bit tight on first pour, so we decanted and then the Bryant came alive, with deep dark current, black cherry, and beautiful balance and soft resolved tannins on the palate. The 2000 vintage often gets panned, but this showing with the 2000 Bryant Family proves that quality juice on a so-so vintage—still can shine.

2000 vintage

Drinking delightfully

2000 vintage

Wow, it has been 4 years since I opened one of these?? Decanted and drank. Loved this night one with a ribeye, it had fruit, herbs, and solid acidity to pair well with the fatty meat. Left the other half in the decanter overnight, which brought out fennel on the nose (?) and a more saline character in the mouth. Nice, but think this is meant to pair with food.

2006 vintage

This wine is in a really nice place. Still almost black color, but a beautiful floral bouquet...smooth almost sweet finish...

2000 vintage

Took a while to open - then excellent. Tight at first. Menthol and blackberry.

2000 vintage

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Betz Family Winery, Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

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