Beta
Jasud
Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Holding fast to the trend of experiencing rarities, I have been patiently waiting for this moment for six years. Back in 2019, I was visiting Napa and one of the producers I greatly admire told me about Ketan Mody’s insane project up on Diamond Mountain. I was obviously curious and immediately joined the list for his Beta wines. Over the last half decade, I have greatly enjoyed the way those Beta wines made me think; challenging contemporary Napa wine making convention while delivering undeniable, distinctive quality. They taste very little like the point chasing wines that have become so ubiquitous (and sort of homogenous). Ketan has had to work hard for Jasud Estate to become a reality, but that’s a story for a different day.
Opened and double decanted the night before; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Jasud Estate pours deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, sensational nose of fresh cassis, brambles, red flowers, leaf tobacco, rocky rocky earth, and a subtle balance of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. The finish is long. A very special wine. How Ketan managed to tame the 2022 vintage is remarkable. This is a beautifully balanced and I believe this will be proof that great wine is made in the vineyard. Drink now through 2062. — 5 months ago
I’m sure you’ll agree that while his mindset is the same across both labels, they are express very differently. I always appreciate the Beta wines but they aren’t ones I seek out. Jasud, on the other hand, has the mid-palate power that I don’t get with Beta. It still retains Ketan’s feral-specific profile, but there is just “more” of everything. Unfortunately for me I’ll likely never be allocated since it requires a long-standing Beta history. Wish he’d split them!
Tenuta San Leonardo
San Leonardo Red Blend 2016
Popped and poured; enjoyed over a several hour period. No formal notes. I figured this would be a baby and it certainly was. At this point, everything is wound up into a tight coil. The nose is loaded with dark crunchy fruits, green bell pepper, tobacco, dried Italian herbs, aromatic wood and light baking spices. On the palate, the fruit is super fresh. This comes across elegant however the structure is pretty significant; the acid in particular with the tannin being a bit more on the sneaky side. I drank alongside the 2018 Beta “Maus” and while the nose on the San Leonardo was a bit more exotic, these shared a lot of similarities from a body, texture and structure standpoint. I expect this will begin to show better after 2026 however, I have no plans to touch my remaining bottle until after 2030. Patience will be handsomely rewarded. — 3 years ago
Sandlands Vineyards
Sonoma County Chardonnay 2018
My first experience with Tegan’s Chardonnay and I nerded out on this one. The fruit for this wine was the last harvest from the “Chuy” vineyard, a dry-farmed mountain vineyard at 1000ft elevation with 45yr old vines. It was particularly fun for me because Ketan Mody also harvested Chardonnay from Chuy in 2018 to make a one-off Chardonnay under his Beta label. Both are delicious expressions of the variety. My notes on this one below:
Popped and poured. A very brilliant color reminds me of a yellow diamond and beautifully transparent with medium viscosity. On the nose, kumquat, passion fruit, and lime. Slightly reductive. On the palate, tropical fruit and saline minerals with the silkiest of textures. Medium+ acid helps deliver a long, satisfying finish. Lovely now but could probably cellar for a bit too. If only I had been allocated more than one bottle. — 5 years ago
Nikka Whisky Distilling Company
Coffey Malt Whisky
Pregame. Congrats to Beta Wines on a successful first release this morning. — 8 years ago
Beta Wine
Montecillo Vineyard Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Opened and poured into a decanter about five hours prior to dinner. Once poured, this was enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2018 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fantastic, winsome notes of black currants, blackberries, Serrano peppers, tobacco, purple Flintstones vitamins, dried herbs, rocky earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and sanguine; laden with ferrous minerals.
The nose alone is sensational but it needs a pile of air to fully appreciate and the monumental structure almost demands it. A wine with a very long life yet ahead. Drink now with an extended decant and through 2058+. — 2 months ago
Beta Wine
Maus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days with consistent notes. This is my first bottle of the 2018 “Maus” which shares the same clonal material as the fruit from Montecillo but sits about 1000ft below. No formal notes. The overall impression of freshness is unassailable. At this stage, the wine is super duper primary with cassis and tobacco taking a dominant role. There seems to be some fairly good tannin management happening because the effect on the palate is moderate. Acid, on the other hand, is medium++ and there may be a touch of VA; all good though. This is a very light, elegant and natural expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that’s showing a bit green at the moment however, I feel very confident that time will help this flesh out. Patience will be rewarded. Drink from 2025-2038+. — 3 years ago
Barkan Vineyards
The Beta Series Bar Giora Single Vineyard Riesling 2018
terrible days in Israel.
an Israeli off dry riesling and that's a change.
11% abv
medium to full body.
high acidity.
white flowers, lemon rind and leaves, lime, peach, green apple peel and hints of ginger.
on it's own sweetness is hinted.
combined with not too spicy indian style veggie take away it felt much sweeter and lifted the cuisine.
medium 🎯
very interesting. feels like a good but not great kabinett german Riesling.
great vfm @ 80 nis. — 5 years ago
Common Roots Brewing Company
Beta Experimental India Pale Ale
A simple styled New England IPA. I put this down to the session strength, which makes it much more palatable. A good one for #internationalbeerday — 8 years ago
Beta Wine
Vare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
First time having this producer.
It was extremely elegant, smooth and dare I say sexy. Perhaps, the most brilliant mid red fruit led Cabernet I’ve had. Well managed tannins & really good oak application. Wire to wire beautiful.
Could make a case for 94 with a few more years of aging.
— 2 months ago
Sommras Wines
Estate Tuscan 2022
This bottle was opened several hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of five days. Remarkably, this was consistent throughout. The 2022 “Estate Tuscan” pours a deep, ruby color with a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe and tart fruit: blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, red flowers, tobacco, graphite, wood varnish, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the red fruit seems to show itself a little more. The finish is long and grippy. For me, this is one of the most enjoyable new wines from Napa since discovering Ketan Mody’s Beta wines back in 2019. Yes, it flush with beautiful, ripe fruit but it’s the red fruits and massive structure that really grabs my interest. The Super Tuscan inspiration is palpable. Worth seeking out. Drink now through 2047. — a year ago
Sheldrake Point
Beta Series Strike Back Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer 2018
Very interesting and spicy dessert wine. Dark golden color. Aromas of orange zest, mango, lychee fruit and a bevy of spices. The palate notes orange marmalade, cooked peach and those ever present sweet baking spices. Viscous texture but not syrupy sweet for a dessert wine. Paired nicely with carrot cake. Interesting! — 2 years ago
Barkan Vineyards
The Beta Series Judean Foothills Single Vineyard Colombard 2018
(French) colombard used to be the most planted white variety in Israel. used as the white blend workhorse. lost it's popularity a few decades ago and now being used again.
most winemakers consider it a fresh not to be aged crisp week day quality sipper.
this is my second try, the other one was ok-ish.
11.5% abv
high acidity.
light body.
apricot, peach, grated 🍋peel and a hint of nuttines. maybe a guava slight memory.
balanced and interesting.
medium + 🎯
had it on it's own by the pool while vacationing in the dead sea desert area.
lovely sipper and great vfm (79 nis) — 5 years ago
Brendan Baker
Blood orange, cassis, medium body, velvet tannin, long 🤤 — a month ago