His beard has more salt than pepper now, but in the decade since we worked together at Stimson Lane, Bob Betz has lost none of his enthusiasm for wine. In recent years he earned the prestigious Master of Wine certification, then left Chateau Ste. Michelle to start his own 1,200-case operation, Betz Family Winery. "Seamless syrahs and cabernets," cooed Wine & Spirits magazine, naming Betz one of the best small wineries in America.
Tasted two releases at Pike & Western this afternoon. The 2001 Clos de Betz [about $30] is very like wine from Bordeaux's right bank [especially the villages of Saint Emillion and Pomerol], based on a high proportion of merlot; the wine is beautifully soft, silky and plummy. The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille [about $45] has a flavor profile more like wine from the Médoc, with a nose of graphite and currants. A big hurrah for both bottles!
"I couldn't have dreamed of a better life," says Bob. Bravo!
