Sign In

2019 Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah

Removed from protected passive storage in a temperature controlled home; Purchased direct from winery; Consignor is original owner

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

97Jeb Dunnuck

...great nose of ripe blackberries, cherries, dried herbs, lavender, and herbes de Provence. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced on the palate, it has terrific tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and a great, great finish.

95Owen Bargreen

...nose is downright killer with smoky tones alongside bacon fat, blackberry compote and dried herbs with black pepper. The palate has great concentration and mid-palate ripeness with good verve. Creme de violette and anise tones with black olive tapenade combine with salty undertones and a soft texture. The wine finishes long.

94-96The Wine Advocate

Fluttering with elements of wild cherry, black raspberry and dusty black peppercorn... Medium to full-bodied, the palate has good bones and displays an array of floral, high-toned red fruit flavors in the mouth, with a beautifully balanced chassis, energetic acidity and lifting tannins. The wine concludes with a long, lingering finish that makes me want to finish the glass.

94Vinous / IWC

The nose is downright killer, presenting smoky tones alongside bacon fat, blackberry compote and dried herbs with black pepper. The palate has great concentration and midpalate ripeness and good verve.

94James Suckling

A lovely nose of rose, black cherry, toasted almond, fig and grated nutmeg. Full-bodied with fine, soft tannins. Lovely depth and balance here, with ripe dark fruit and fresh acidity. Very steady-handed and elegant. A charmer.

92Wine Enthusiast

...aromas offering notes of cigar box, olive, fresh parsley, soot and cherry—unique for the appellation...palate is all about refinement, but there's also plenty of substance behind that as well as tannic structure.

17.5+ Jancis Robinson

Aromas are currently subtle – notes of desert sage lift...palate is savoury with fresh blue fruits carried through a long savoury finish... Tannin is fine-grained and lightly tactile...

PRODUCER

Betz Family Winery

Betz Family Winery was founded in Woodinville, Washington, in 1997, by Bob and Cathy Betz. In the early 1970s the then young couple traveled through Europe’s great wine regions working in wineries and vineyards. In 1975 Bob started working at Chateau St. Michelle, where he eventually became Vice President of Winemaking Research. But he and his wife wanted their own winery, so they began sourcing grapes from Washington’s best appellations. Betz Family Winery specializes in Syrah and Rhone style wines, though it also produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Bob Betz “makes some of Washington’s best Syrah…”

REGION

United States, Washington, Columbia Valley

Columbia Valley AVA is larger than some states. At 18,000 square miles, or 11 million acres, the appellation covers almost half of Washington State and a small part of Oregon on the south side of the Columbia River. Established in 1984, Columbia Valley contains numerous sub appellations within its boundaries, including Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA, both large and important wine districts. Columbia Valley AVA, generally called the Columbia Basin by Pacific Northwesterners, is in the Columbia River Plateau, and the AVA also includes a section of northeastern Oregon. There are dozens of microclimates within this appellation of about 7,000 vineyard acres. Many kinds of grapes are grown in the Columbia Valley, though the principal grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Eastern Washington experiences very hot summers and cold winters, and the northern latitude means that Washington vineyards receive several more hours of sun in the summer than California vineyards. Grapes in Washington therefore have time to develop significant tannins and overall ripeness.

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.

VINTAGE

2019 Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah