Winemaker Notes
The 2017 Bésoleil manages to nimbly walk a tightrope between power and elegance. The brilliant ruby color promises the aromatic fireworks to follow; strawberry preserves, pomegranate and red raspberries, white and black pepper, freshly ground nutmeg, rose petals and potpurri. The silky palate expands into orange rind and hibiscus. Although supple and layered, there is bright acidity throughout that maintains both focus and freshness. The finish is lively and lengthy with pronounced mineral and dried herb notes. Delightful now, Bésoleil will continue to gain breadth and nuance over the next 7-10 years.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesRating: 93+
Grenache makes up 49% of this wine, with the rest Mourvèdre (34%), Counoise (11%) and Syrah. The aromas are very pretty, with notes of white pepper, blueberry, raspberry and mineral. The palate is medium bodied, bringing a sense of delicacy. It’s all about elegance, with a fine sense of peppery spicing that ups the interest. A long finish caps it off.
By carving out specific vineyard blocks and being meticulous in the vineyard and cellar they are able to achieve the quality they aspire to, the result being highly-acclaimed wines that compete on the world stage.
As importantly over the years our winery culture has become a way of life in which everyone – our growers, winery team and customers are family.
Today, Betz Family Winery is headed by two families, committed to be true to their heritage, their family members and true to what Betz embodies: wines of dimension and pleasure that allow the character of Washington to shine through.
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.