Beta Wine
Vare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, California, USA
Initially popped and poured and holy smokes, this is green! The nose is youthful but not without charm, with tart red and black fruit and fresh cut roses. On the palate however, this was simply too green; too tart. So I ended up decanting for a couple of hours before returning to the bottle and checked in on it over the following four days. Probably best on Day 4 but it remained pretty youthful.
After four days of being open, the 2017 “Vare Vineyard” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with pretty notes of bright, underripe fruit: blackberries, raspberries, red currants, cranberries, fresh leaf tobacco, Anaheim pepper, roses, dried herbs and autumn forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with sneaky medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. The finish is medium+. Overall, this is a very young wine that’s full of energy and needs many years to come into balance. Better after 2027 and drink through 2042. 12.3% ABV. Yes, you read that right.
Initially popped and poured and holy smokes, this is green! The nose is youthful but not without charm, with tart red and black fruit and fresh cut roses. On the palate however, this was simply too green; too tart. So I ended up decanting for a couple of hours before returning to the bottle and checked in on it over the following four days. Probably best on Day 4 but it remained pretty youthful.
After four days of being open, the 2017 “Vare Vineyard” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with pretty notes of bright, underripe fruit: blackberries, raspberries, red currants, cranberries, fresh leaf tobacco, Anaheim pepper, roses, dried herbs and autumn forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with sneaky medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. The finish is medium+. Overall, this is a very young wine that’s full of energy and needs many years to come into balance. Better after 2027 and drink through 2042. 12.3% ABV. Yes, you read that right.
My first experience with the 2015 “Vare Vineyard” and the first of my three allocated bottles. Ketan mentioned this was his best “Vare” bottling to-date and while I can’t speak to that (since all of my previous experiences with Beta have been the Montecillo Vineyard in Sonoma), I can verify that it has Ketan’s signature all over it. I did not decant this bottle though, it probably would have benefited from it. Never the less, the bouquet was bursting with character: predominately black fruits, anise, eucalyptus, coniferous forest floor, Anaheim pepper…the overwhelming message of freshness and one of the most unique noses I’ve ever encountered from a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, things were a little more subdued with black currants, tart black cherry and black bramble fruit with a little hint of baking spices. It seemed a touch green, to be completely honest. Bone dry and endowed with substantial structure; medium+ tannin, medium+ acid, all the while framed by a medium- body; a welter weight of a wine.
This seems right in-line with what I have come to expect from Ketan Mody’s approach and, while I don’t expect anyone to peg this as Bordeaux in a blind tasting, it certainly has some Old World sensibilities and reminds me of the way Cabernet Sauvignon was made in California 40+ years ago. And, after drinking a few 40 year old Napa Cabernet’s this past week plus the aforementioned balance of fruit/structure, I believe this has a long life ahead of it with a rather exciting upside. Drink with patience or cellar. FWIW, I don’t have any immediate plans to open my second bottle before 2025.
My first experience with the 2015 “Vare Vineyard” and the first of my three allocated bottles. Ketan mentioned this was his best “Vare” bottling to-date and while I can’t speak to that (since all of my previous experiences with Beta have been the Montecillo Vineyard in Sonoma), I can verify that it has Ketan’s signature all over it. I did not decant this bottle though, it probably would have benefited from it. Never the less, the bouquet was bursting with character: predominately black fruits, anise, eucalyptus, coniferous forest floor, Anaheim pepper…the overwhelming message of freshness and one of the most unique noses I’ve ever encountered from a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, things were a little more subdued with black currants, tart black cherry and black bramble fruit with a little hint of baking spices. It seemed a touch green, to be completely honest. Bone dry and endowed with substantial structure; medium+ tannin, medium+ acid, all the while framed by a medium- body; a welter weight of a wine.
This seems right in-line with what I have come to expect from Ketan Mody’s approach and, while I don’t expect anyone to peg this as Bordeaux in a blind tasting, it certainly has some Old World sensibilities and reminds me of the way Cabernet Sauvignon was made in California 40+ years ago. And, after drinking a few 40 year old Napa Cabernet’s this past week plus the aforementioned balance of fruit/structure, I believe this has a long life ahead of it with a rather exciting upside. Drink with patience or cellar. FWIW, I don’t have any immediate plans to open my second bottle before 2025.
Not sure how to score this, so I won’t. Polarizing. For a unique and different take on Napa cab, it’s really intriguing. For scratching the typical Napa cab itch, this won’t do it. Depending which side you trend towards, you’ll either love this or have no desire to finish the bottle.
Purposefully pop and poured so that this could be followed for 3-4hrs out of the decanter to see the profile. Translucent purple in the glass. 12.7ABV! All the fruit here is underripe (black cherry, black currant) with a hint of pyrazines, black tea. On the palate, it has ripping acidity, especially for a Napa cab. Sour red and black fruits with a finish that is remarkably similar to a cherry Jolly Rancher. Odd.
I’d say double decant this for 24hrs, but I also think it is what it is right now until it’s had 20+ years of sleep.
Not sure how to score this, so I won’t. Polarizing. For a unique and different take on Napa cab, it’s really intriguing. For scratching the typical Napa cab itch, this won’t do it. Depending which side you trend towards, you’ll either love this or have no desire to finish the bottle.
Purposefully pop and poured so that this could be followed for 3-4hrs out of the decanter to see the profile. Translucent purple in the glass. 12.7ABV! All the fruit here is underripe (black cherry, black currant) with a hint of pyrazines, black tea. On the palate, it has ripping acidity, especially for a Napa cab. Sour red and black fruits with a finish that is remarkably similar to a cherry Jolly Rancher. Odd.
I’d say double decant this for 24hrs, but I also think it is what it is right now until it’s had 20+ years of sleep.
Almost-ripe blackberry, redcurrant, cedar. Fine tannin, lifted acidity, long 🥰
Almost-ripe blackberry, redcurrant, cedar. Fine tannin, lifted acidity, long 🥰
Feb 15th, 2021
Similar to my previous note. Red fruits and medium bodied. Does not reach the same level as the Montecillo IMO.
Similar to my previous note. Red fruits and medium bodied. Does not reach the same level as the Montecillo IMO.
Aug 23rd, 2020
Medium bodied like the 2011 and 2012’s but a little more power here. Ketan is making great wines.
Medium bodied like the 2011 and 2012’s but a little more power here. Ketan is making great wines.
Jul 1st, 2020Pop and pour. Loads of red fruits and cedar. Has an interesting sweet candy like note that runs through it. Not sure if this is something that integrates with more time or if it’s just the nature of the fruit from this vineyard.
Pop and pour. Loads of red fruits and cedar. Has an interesting sweet candy like note that runs through it. Not sure if this is something that integrates with more time or if it’s just the nature of the fruit from this vineyard.
Mar 2nd, 2020Cassis, med-bodied, fine tannin. Not quite as open as the ‘11 and ‘12 Beta Monticellos I’ve opened to date
Cassis, med-bodied, fine tannin. Not quite as open as the ‘11 and ‘12 Beta Monticellos I’ve opened to date
Jan 4th, 2020