Jay Kline

9.5

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

Raul Puga

9.3

Delicioso 🇪🇸 in the Florida Keys!!! — a year ago

with Joe and Mariana

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Deep ruby in color; black cherries, wood smoke, and cedar on the nose; medium acidity; medium acidity; medium tannins; tastes like cherries, wet gravel, and raspberries with a long finish. Jason, Nellie, and Jen say it's ok. Brian and I like it. — 2 years ago

with Jason and Nellie

Jay Kline

9.3

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

Jay Kline

9.3

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. — 5 years ago

Enrique

9.4

Potente y profundo. Largo en boca — 6 years ago

Angela Sanks

9.2

cherry, soft tannins, kinda salty, hebacious like sage — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. By far, the best Moon Mountain Cabernet I've had over the course of 34 years and it's not even close. Power, finesse, structure, development, balance, potential. Generally not a Sonoma County Cab fan with the older, Patrick Campbell produced/overseen Laurel Glen Cabs (1985-1994) being the main exception. 08.15.25. — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2015 vintage. 2.28.24. — 2 years ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.0

@Delectable, this is the Gran Reserva.

Remarkably smooth having benefitted from its age. Big blackberry flavour. — 3 years ago

with Gillian

Rob N

9.3

My first of the 2019 vintage. Tasty, opened up with some air — had some mineral/old world vibes right out of the bottle. Cheers! $115. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.4

Beautiful wine. — 5 years ago

Charles Mires

9.1

Excellent. Medium body. Plenty bright but a bit thin on fruit. — 6 years ago

Paola Arriaza

9.3

Had this with my mom. Delish! Loved it — 4 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Pretty good — 8 months ago

Christian Ramirez Romanini

9.0

Este Tempranillo empieza con cereza roja ligeramente deshidratada, con notas de tabaco y tostados, sutiles notas de eneldo y hierbas secas, y pequeñas notas florales en el fondo. Afrutado y picante en el paladar, con algunas ligeras notas cítricas, de pomelo junto a frutos rojos, con gran longitud y fina acidez.

COLOR:
Color rojo picota brillante, con irisaciones azuladas. De capa alta.

AROMAS:
Intenso y complejo. Aromas de fruta roja acompañados de notas dulces y de pastelería. Aparecen notas de tofe y caramelo de fresa con nata.

GUSTO:
El vino Montecillo Crianza tiene una entrada agradable, en la que aparece mucha fruta roja que nos recuerda al Tempranillo, acompañada de una equilibrada acidez y cuerpo de la Garnacha. Un tanino pulido y bien integrado con las notas afrutadas. Un vino placentero, largo y que deja huella. — a year ago

Heather Rostker

9.1

Nice find for us at San Diego wine and beer — 3 years ago

with Dave

PM

9.0

2018 cab from Bedrock! Very good — 4 years ago

Christian Ramirez Romanini

9.1

Con un rojo rubí de menisco marcado y excelente brillo y limpidez, este Gran Reserva te invita a sentir sus aromas.

En principio y después de su primer contacto con el oxígeno, se muestra tímido y franco. Subsecuentemente, van apareciendo notas de madera dulces, canela, clavo y frutas escarchadas; matices que van variando en el tiempo.

En boca es sutil y agradable, con gran sutileza en la entrada y el paso. Tanino extremadamente pulido y acidez serena que mantiene un largo postgusto. — 4 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.5

Agree with other eaters. This is an extremely well balanced Zin. Has the fruit notes but not overpowering and a smooth finish — 5 years ago