Yes I would. It had a ton of tannic structure and the fruit was muted.
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That sounds like a lot of 1995 Bordeaux, and it’s not working out well for most of them.
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I havent had the wine for a couple of years now but I loved it. It was subtle, ethereal, and like a crystal clear version of cabernet rather than density and deep dark cabby plum or blackberry. The fruit was there, for sure. If you are looking for power and something more fruit forward, this won’t be it. I bought more in the years after based on this vintage - it occupies a place in my mind and cellar that other cabs i own don’t.
I have one more bottle and will open it pretty soon. Based on what I recall, I am not sure it will gain too much with more time. I dont see the fruit coming forward, anyway. I’m interested to see how this is in a few years, but not enough to wait.
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Having drank my last one, I don’t think 2014 is a great vintage for Beta. I think 2016 showed a large leap forward. Agree with Vare seeming more open knit than Montecillo, but my experience is admittedly limited.
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Yep, i definitely wasnt looking for power and over the top fruit…but i was hoping for a little excitement and more enjoyment. It was definitely ‘fine’ and easy to drink, but in a blind tasting with other wines im pretty sure i would have passed this one up pretty quickly
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Excellent feedback and much appreciated! Will look for a 16 and check in, as im certainly open to exploring a little more since lots of folks have really enjoyed some of these.
At the risk of sounding like John Glas, day 3 was probably the best. Fully integrated with soft red fruits without any of the bitter stem notes that were prominent day 1.
A nice enough cab but just that, and honestly
pretty forgettable. Id say hold em if you’ve got em to see how it progresses.
Thanks again for all the comments from peeps who have much more experience with this producer than i do. I really appreciate the perspective 
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I have two tasting notes on CT online. Looks like I liked the 2019 even more than the 2016, FWIW! Hopefully the tasting notes give a sense of the wine style (and how it’s not that inconsistent from the 2014 you had). I’m laying down my Beta’s for many many years. I even started buying mags for the kids… as I think they will easily go decades…
- 2016 Beta Cabernet Sauvignon Vare Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (11/26/2021)
92 today, 93 +with ?a decade?. This was my first Beta and it really surprised me with a unique expression of Napa. Just ripe enough Napa fruit with good sweetness and flavor (purple red) and fresh green herbs, on an elegant frame that recalled being made with an old world bent (but more nebbiolo/burdundy influence than a thick inky Bordeaux) and the herbal complexity being more of a refreshing seam than dominating in shroomy way. Highly structured with an obvious vanilla note today, that will need 5+ years to integrate an another 5+ years to blossom. If trying today, would recommend a quick taste on PNP and then an overnight double decant in the fridge rather than trying to break down that structure with only a couple hours in the decanter. Can debate the QPR at $100 (i.e. its not obvious), but I think it's reasonable for the quality and style of wine versus finding this in other wine regions. Truly looking forward to see what this wine becomes in a decade+.
**Update only 12.5% alcohol! explains the elegance and perhaps that slight twinge of greenness. A level of alcohol I appreciate!** (93 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
- 2019 Beta Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District (11/15/2024)
This wine is young and asks for years to mature. Its drinkable, but certainly would be more enjoyable with more time. More about potential at this stage.
After 30 min decant: Med+ bodied with good intensity of flavor. Purple currants, raspberries, light cassis. High acidity which caught me off guard. Fine, drying cedary tannins that don't overpower with cedar notes (which I find to be a plus). Pure fruit without overt vanilla note. Really poised and balanced long finish. High acids and purity of fruit brings in you for more sips.
After 6 hours: Wine has settled into currants, some cassis, some pine, some black tea. Acids have toned down to Med+ acidity. Fruit tinged finish picks up strength.
Strikes me as old world meets slightly crunchy US fruit. Would like to see this in 10 years and the wine certainly will go for 20+. Has the structure & balance to age well. My hope is it fleshes out more over time, which people say the 2012 Montecillo did. I would like a slight more fleshiness, which could come with time or slightly later pick date (but not too much!) (95 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Yeah opening that mag of 14 was a mistake, oh well.
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Have not tried a 14, but opened a 13 Beta Montecillo last week and it was on fire. PnP as I did not have time to decant. Didn’t matter. Was singing from the jump. Reminded me of an aged Togni. While I am sure it will continue to get better with age, I was struck by just how well it is drinking now.
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I have a '17 Vare standing up currently. Will report back.
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I keep hearing about the 12 being lights out good
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So, in general, are folks digging the Montecillo more than the Vare?
If you look at the CT notes, Vare tends to run behind the rest, and 2014 has the lowest score of any of his wines. I’ll try to crack a 2013 this year, as I still haven’t had one from that vineyard yet.
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Yep, good call on the CT notes! I’ll get my hands on a younger Montecillo at some point
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My past experience with Arnot-Roberts Vare Cabernet left me kinda cold. I really like their Montecillo.
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That settles it. I need to try a Montecillo with some age on it
Tasting with Ketan today I asked him about the '14. He said it was fine, but not his favorite wine he’s made for a few reasons I won’t get into. But he really loves his '11-'13 and '18+ both in terms of the vintages and how the wines turned out. The '11 and '13 Montecillo I had were both extremely good.
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Awesome feedback Andrew, thank you! And also really appreciate your full write up - sounds like an awesome day/tasting
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15 Vare I had a few weeks back was really nice. I put a note on cellartracker. The one caveat was that it was slow ox’d for 12 hours.