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+. — a year 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. — 3 years ago

Richard Alfred

9.6

At Dry Creek Kitchen with Lynn celebrating our 41st anniversary. Tuna tartare, leek and halibut chowder, and lamp chops. Delicious. — 5 years ago

Lamar Hannah

9.0

Very nice. Good fruit and balance. Enjoyed — 5 years ago

Philippe Dupuis

8.9

Cherry and moka on nose, mouth follows, polished and balanced, with notes of chocolate, cherry, kirsh and a hint of balsamic vinegar. Medium + lenght. — 6 years ago

Haley Reese

9.0

Buttery, but fruit forward. Smooth, easy to drink. Delectable. Berries. — 6 years ago

PM

9.0

2018 cab from Bedrock! Very good — a year ago

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. — 2 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 — 3 years ago

Carter White

9.2

Fruity and salty, long acidic finish. — 5 years ago

Brad Doyle

9.1

Very nice at the price point. Compares well to Campo Viejo — 5 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.0

Mogen Rioja som fått ligga till sig på flaska i decennium. Doften är mäktig. Plommon, mörka bär, oliver och vanilj. Smaken har tydlig ålder och den initiala fatlagringen känns. Mogna plommon, svart te, dill, grön paprika, kakao, örter, anis. En fint avslut med antydan av tanin. — 5 years ago

Linda smith

9.5

Lovely smooth red no food required enjoyed with steak! — 6 years ago

with Elizabeth and Zacch

Marilyn

9.5

One of my fav Rioja — 8 years ago

Jeanette Clark

10

Great with spicy food — 2 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. — 2 years ago

Charles Mires

9.1

Excellent. Medium body. Plenty bright but a bit thin on fruit. — 4 years ago

Alli Jakubek

9.6

Has an orangey hue. Oaky smell, tobacco, dusty, smells like grandmas basement during poker night. Taste is AGGRESSIVE. Literally tastes like a poker night. Super tannic. Oak. Ripe Plum, acidity makes it almost lemony at the end. Burn up front but no burn going down. — 5 years ago

Brian G

9.0

Opened up great — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Curious, so I decided to open up one of these while waiting for someone to help me consume the other half.... This wine is youthful, and for that reason is a bit out of balance from the previous wine I remembered and scored quite a bit higher than this one. This wine is a 93 right now, with potential for a 96-97 IMO. The fruit in front is massive. Black cherry, black licorice, but as @Shay A was mentioning there is a red fruity kind of touch to this one and I completely agree. The middle is a little bit muted vs. the previous vintage. The finish is quite peppery, toasted oak. Tons of potential on this full bodied Moon Mountain monster. Hold for the next 10 years. — 5 years ago

with Shay