Skip to main content

Betz Family Winery, Woodinville

Taste Washington! Recommended Wines.
Carmen, Bob and Cathy. 

I enjoyed visiting with the Betz family this weekend. It was a leisurely tasting with a great deal of conversation. Bob Betz is winemaker, founder, patriarch and guiding light. His pursuit of winemaking began in the early 1970's. Bob holds the degree of Master of Wine (MW), a designation awarded by the Institute of Masters of Wine in London. In completing the exams Bob was given two additional awards: the Villa Maria Award, for the highest scores on the viticultural exam, and the Robert Mondavi Award, for the highest overall scores in all theory exams. While Bob and his wife Cathy have sold the winery, Bob will remain winemaker until 2016.

Adored both the Clos de Betz and the 2009 La Serrene Syrah. The La Cotte Rousse was also very good, it was just out-shined by the others (if anyone would like to send me a sample, I will gladly reconsider). All three highly recommended. I wish you success in tracking down Betz Family wines.

2009 Clos de Betz, Columbia Valley.

* Favorite: 2009 Clos de Betz – Red wine, great nose, enticing, big, hate to spit, lovely, complex. Big like. 65% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. 51% Red Mountain, 30% Yakima Valley, 19% Horse Heaven Hills.


2009 La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley.


* Favorite: 2009 La Serrene Syrah – Boushey vineyard, meaty, focused violets, spice, for wild game. Wow. 100% Syrah Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley AVA.  

La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain.

2009 La Cotte Rousse - Red Mountain AVA, Syrah. Earthy meaty dark, plush. 100% Syrah. Recommended.

Wines listed here are the wines I liked and recommend. My favorite wines appealed to me because they expressed unique characteristics and quality, they are indicated by an “*” and are in italics. 

Betz FamilyWinery (no tasting room)
13244 Woodinville
Redmond Road NE
Redmond, WA 98052
425-861-9823

www.betzfamilywinery.com
twitter: @betzwine

Related Post: Taste Washington! How I will Review 29 Wineries and 103 Wines.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...
Read more

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle ...
Read more

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Wh...
Read more