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2007 Bordeaux-Inspired Wines
Looking back on 35 years of Washington red wines you would be hard pressed to surpass the 2007 vintage. It ranks right up there with the legendary years of ’75, ’89, ’04 in terms of dimension, expression and complexity. Critics and consumers agree about the special personality of 2007 wines: they reflect the even weather patterns that shaped the growing season, fostering a balanced, even ripening for the grapes.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille
Our 2007 Père de Famille resonates with the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend; at 85%, the Cabernet fraction provides the depth and fruit purity this wine has come to represent. Penetrating black currant and sweet black cherry are the foundation fruits, with elements of exotic spice, smoke and camphor in tow. Merlot (8%) and Petit Verdot (7%) play supporting roles, contributing mineral and black olive hints. On the palate it’s lush and full, with a pure fruit expression, while fine grained tannins provide structure for a silken mouthfeel and extraordinary length to the finish
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot
74% Red Mountain, 17% Horse Heaven Hills, 9% Yakima Valley
Both the Wine Advocate (Parker) and The International Wine Cellar (Tanzer) reviewed the 2007 soon after bottling during their summer 2009 visits to Washington.
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Betz Family Winery remains one of Washington’s benchmarks for top quality wines from Rhone and Bordeaux grape varieties. Bob Betz’s 2007 collection shows him continuing at the top of his game… a brooding aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, pencil lead, violets, black currant and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate… admirably combining elegance and power. The pure finish lasts for over 60-seconds. 95 points”
Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: “These 2007 reds combine the structure of the 2005s with the added juiciness of the 2006s, says Betz, who appears to have made his finest set of wines to date... Pungent Cabernet aromas and flavors of red, black and blue fruits complicated by dried thyme and a floral topnote. The extremely intense yet silky palate offers a stunning wave of sweetness… Most impressive today on the rising but wonderfully subtle finish, which is supported by serious tannic spine and goes on and on… 95 points”
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2007 Clos de Betz
Merlot traditionally provides the fleshy foundation for this blend, and it easily assumed that role in 2007. The quality of Merlot in 2007 almost had us bottling a varietal Merlot! Ultimately we decided to let its typical richness set the stage for small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to add their subtle complexity.
The result is a big volume Clos, from its glass-coating appearance to its length on the finish. Deep black cherry, plum and exotic spice aromas lead to a rich, ripe and lush mouthfeel. But this is no fruit salad; it’s an integrated, well-knit wine, filled with deep red notes and added depth coming from an increased quantity of remarkable Red Mountain grapes. Fruit from our Horse Heaven and Yakima Valley vineyards added hints of cola, chocolate and minerals enhancing the final blend.
57% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
39% Red Mountain, 33% Horse Heaven Hills, 28% Yakima Valley
Here, too, Parker’s and Tanzer’s summer ’08 visits led to their own descriptions that are worth sharing:
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “… an alluring bouquet of spice box, violets, incense, black currant, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it displays an elegant personality along with considerable complexity. Expressive black fruits mingle with earth and spice notes, plenty of ripe, fine-grained tannin, and a lengthy finish. 94 points”
Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: “… Black raspberry and licorice… Large-scaled and mouth-filling but with superb floral lift and an added element of density and structure from the petit verdot component… terrific verve and energy for aging. 93(+?)”
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