RELEASE ALERT - BETZ FAMILY WINERY

Here's another release for ya that I don't have the bank to buy, so if you're interested, let me know and my allocation is yours at whatever my cost is and I'll have it direct shipped to you. Cheers!

2006 Clos de Betz - 750ml $44.00 During the months of its barrel aging and evolution we began referring to the 2006 Clos de Betz as the “black hole” wine, somewhat for its color, but more for the character of its fruit: black, blue and a little red. Black cherry, kirsch, blueberry, plum, espresso and bitter chocolate. It developed a dense, rich mouthfeel, yet it retains a vibrant, intense personality. The Merlot fraction (47%) is the star: by focusing on low yields, careful fermentation and maturation techniques and not over-oaking, Merlot can achieve a deep pure fruit expression. Blending with selected barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec created a complex, complete wine, with a depth and power beyond previous vintages. 47% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate reviewed the Clos de Betz about three months after bottling: “…Purple/black in color, it reveals a fragrant nose of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, black cherry, blackberry, and plum. This leads to a smooth-textured, intense, layered wine with superb depth and concentration…” 93 points

2006 Pére de Famille - 750ml $58.00 The final blend for the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille is almost identical to the 2005: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. It's a wine of serious proportion, lush and silky structure, and a comlex tangle of fruit, spice and wood notes. There’s a deep core of black currant, with plum and black cherry beneath, then the sweet pipe tobacco, black olive and sandalwood set in. It’s full bodied, with a fundamental grip of tannin for longevity (79% of the fruit comes from Red Mountain), but a lifted and plush texture (composed of equal parts from the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley). Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate reviewed the 2006 about 3 months after bottling and had this to say: “…Opaque purple, the wine has a brooding nose of wood smoke, earth notes, mineral, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. This is followed by a layered, opulent wine with superb depth and concentration…” 95 points