Betz Family Winery Columbia Valley Clos De Betz Red Blend 2017 750 ML

: This is really beautiful with chocolate and tile aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, round and polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Refined. Nice balance here. 60% merlot, 21% petit verdot and 19% cabernet sauvignon.\n Producer Information\n Betz Family Winery is a small Washington wine producer in the Columbia Valley viticultural area. It sources fruit through a number of partnerships in several of the regions sub-AVAs, dividing its catalogue between red Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style wines. The most prominent varieties are Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Petit Verdot, Merlot and Grenache. The winery was established by Bob and Cathy Betz, with the inaugural 1997 vintage a limited production of roughly 150 cases. Bob worked as the estate's winemaker, having previously spent decades working at the major Washington wine company Chateau Ste. Michelle, and also completing the Master of Wine program. In 2011 however, the Betzes sold the winery to the South African couple Steve and Bridgit Griessel, while remaining part of the management team. Bob stayed on as winemaker until 2016, and remains involved with the winery as a consultant. Betz is best known for its red wines inspired by the French regions of the Rhône and Bordeaux. Fruit is sourced from different partner vineyards in several regions of the Columbia Valley, namely Yakima Valley and its sub-region Snipes Mountain, Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills. In 2016, the Betz winery partnered with South African wine producers Carl van de Merwe and Wendy Appelbaum to make and release a Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc under the label Quinta Essentia. The wine's first vintage was 2015 and limited to 600 cases.