Winemaker Notes
Deeply aromatic with notes of blue and black fruits, violets, camphor and crushed rocks, the profile is exquisitely nuanced, persistent and finessed. On the palate, the Bettina has a fleshiness to seamlessly integrate powerful tannins, which effortlessly and pleasurably manifest into an elongated and smooth finish.
Blend: 62.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30.2% Merlot, and 7.5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
There's a phenomenal nose to this wine with crushed berry, wet earth, wet slate and hints of flowers. Full body with a chewy tannic structure, yet soft and polished. Powerful and rich. Muscular and toned. Has form. Slightly austere tannins. This needs at least four to seven years of bottle age. The high percentage of merlot from Howell Mountain gives this wine a real edge and beauty. A blend of 62.3% cabernet sauvignon, 30.2% merlot and 7.5% petit verdot.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Completely sourced from David Abreu’s three vineyards, Madrona, Thorevilos and Howell Mountain, the Bettina Proprietary Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine offers up sweet notes of white chocolate, espresso, blackberry and cassis. There are some floral notes as well in this medium to full-bodied, lush, sexy wine. It is best drunk over the next 12-15 years.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.