Betz Clos de Betz 2013

Description

Betz Clos de Betz

Betz Clos de Betz reflects the uninterrupted warmth that Merlot enjoyed in 2013. In the glass, it displays a deep ruby hue and truly exciting aromatics on the nose. Black cherries, damsons and cocoa beans lead, while leather, tobacco, sage and truffle reveal themselves over time in the glass. The palate is full and yet fresh, enhanced by the highest percentage ever of Petit Verdot in this blend (20%). Dried thyme and pencil lead nuances add stunning complexity.

2013 began with warm weather, and budbreak arrived in early April. Flowering took place between one and four weeks early in very good conditions. The result was a large crop that could be thinned out to only keep the best clusters. The heat stayed constant through the summer months, with just a little cooling over a couple days in July when there was a small amount of rainfall. A cooling trend slowed things down in the second week of September. The combination of above average heat and cool night-time temperatures resulted in rich textures combined with fresh, preserving acidity.

The Clos de Betz name is a pun on Clos de Bèze. Bob and his now wife Cathy worked a harvest in Clos de Bèze in the early 1970s – Bob told Cathy that, if she “stuck” with him, there would be a Clos de Betz one day. 27 years later, when they made the inaugural vintage of this Right-Bank blend, Bob made a label saying, “Here you go, I promised.” The grapes come from vineyards located in the eastern Yakima Valley, primarily on Red Mountain. At 325-400 metres elevation, the windy site has excellent drainage and a steep, south-eastern aspect. Soils are composed of Hezel sandy loam, silt loam and ancient riverbed. The area is very dry, with just 12cm of annual rainfall.

https://www.betzfamilywinery.com/