Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz 2017

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2017 Clos de Betz has a vibrant expression on the nose, with plush, generous fruit aromas and an underlying brooding tightness. Full-bodied on the palate, the fleshy, plump fruit tones deliver a velvety lushness over the mid-palate, then the wine becomes more dusty and rigid on the finish, ending with oak spices that linger. I will revisit this wine in 36 months, as I suspect it will show better at a later date. This will easily last a decade and more. Drink date: 2019-2040. Score – 94. (Anthony Mueller, robertparker.com, Dec. 30, 2019)