Beta Wine
Beta Wine
Maus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Popped and poured; consumed over a 4-day period. Best on Day 3 and 4. Day 1 and 2 were so primary that I didn’t pour myself more than just a small glass. By Day 3 and 4, while still primary, it had uncoiled enough to properly enjoy…and there is a lot to appreciate.
In the glass, the 2019 “Maus Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with an electric magenta rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of some slight sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with concentrated notes of black currants, blackberry pie, tobacco, third wave espresso, a touch of varnish (some VA or EA?) but not overwhelming, and very faint warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium++ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and has remarkable freshness.
Having enjoyed Ketan Mody’s BETA wines for a handful of years, I can say with a high degree of confidence that nobody is making wines like this in Napa/Sonoma. They’re like the singular wines of Tenuta San Leonardo from Trentino Alto Adige but lacking the pyrazines (thanks to the CA ripeness) and yet, this weighs in at a modest 13.4% abv. These wines are special and the best is yet to come. Drink from 2025-2039 — 6 months 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. — 3 years ago
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. — a year ago
Sheldrake Point
Beta Series Strike Back 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! — 17 days ago
Beta Wine
Montecillo Vineyard Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Ketan is doing such a good job with these wines. Consistently good. — 4 months 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. — 3 years ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2021 “Placida Vineyard” pours a slightly hazy, bright yellow with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is youthful with tart lemon, lime, star fruit, and minerals. Definitely some ethyl acetate there too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium++ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, creamy, lightly buttery and lovely minerals. This is quite the departure from the “Chuy Vineyard” which was the previous, one-and-done, Chardonnay from Ketan. This gave me some Chassagne-Montrachet with a really soft hand, vibes. It’s very young. I’ll hold my remaining bottle for several years down the road. Fun now for all its youthful energy but better after 2026 and through 2040. Paired very well with lamb massaman, larb and papaya salad. — 11 days ago