THE WINE ADVOCATE, AUGUST 2017
2014 Bethel Heights • Chardonnay The High Wire Rating – 97
Produced from 100% high wire Wente Clone, 1977 plantings, the 2014 Chardonnay The High Wire has
pronounced honeyed peach, lemon drop, pineapple and passion fruit notes with touches of crushed
stones, flint and praline. Medium-bodied, rich, refreshing and absolutely packed with the most
incredible flavor layers imaginable from this grape, this wine ticks all the Chardonnay boxes and then
some. 100 cases were made.
2015 Bethel Heights • Chardonnay The High Wire Rating – 96
Produced from 100% high wire Wente Clones planted in 1977, the 2015 Chardonnay The High Wire
delivers intense aromas of lemon peel, yuzu, white peaches and green guava with hints of struck match,
crushed almonds, croissant and orange blossoms. Medium-bodied, the palate is wildly intense, filling the
mouth with citrus and mineral layers that challenge the quality of anything out of the Côte de Beaune.
The finish is especially long. Only 100 cases were made.
2015 Bethel Heights • Chardonnay Casteel Rating – 94
The 2015 Chardonnay Casteel Reserve has a seductively savory and rich nose of brioche, cashews and
beeswax over a core of honeyed apricots, cedar and ginger. Medium-bodied and with a gorgeous
creaminess to the texture, if fills the mouth with stone fruit and spice flavors, finishing with great length
and depth. 300 cases were made.
2015 Bethel Heights • Chardonnay Justice Vineyard Rating – 93+
The 2015 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard is intensely scented of grapefruit, honeydew melon and lemon
curd with hints of honeyed toast and marzipan. Medium-bodied, there is a lovely savory/mineral
element in the mouth with a racy backbone of acid cutting through the concentrated flavors, finishing
long and zesty.
2015 Bethel Heights • Chardonnay Estate Rating – 90
The 2015 Chardonnay Estate Grown is scented of white peaches, spiced apples and baking
bread with hints of shaved almonds and allspice. Medium-bodied, fresh and expressive, it offers
a good core of stone fruit and toasty flavors with a pleasantly oily texture and great length.
2015 Bethel Heights • Pinot Noir Estate Flat Block Rating – 94+
About 300 cases typically made, coming exclusively from a single section of Pommard clone
planted in 1979. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Estate Flat Block has
a restrained, earthy nose of mossy bark, fungi and damp soil over a core of cranberries and red
currants plus a hint of wild thyme. Medium-bodied, it delivers a fine, refreshing structure of
tightly-grained tannins and light acid, framing intense, earthy flavors that finish long and
layered.
2015 Bethel Heights • Pinot Noir Southeast Block Rating – 93
Coming from Pommard clone vines planted in 1979, the 2015 Pinot Noir Southeast Block has a
pale to medium ruby-purple color and conjures notions of cherry cordial, raspberry preserves
and mulberries on the nose with touches of baking spice, chocolate box and anise, plus a waft
of black soil. The palate is wonderfully spicy and earthy, with a medium-bodied core of flesh
well-framed by velvety tannins and great freshness, finishing with lingering cinnamon and clove
notes.
2015 Bethel Heights • Pinot Noir West Block Rating – 93
The Pinot comes from Wadensvil clone vines planted in 1977. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the
2015 Pinot Noir West Block delivers notes of red roses, tilled soil, dried leaves and black truffles
over a core of red currants and black cherries. Medium-bodied with lovely, finely-grained
tannins to texture the generous red berry and earth layers, it has plenty of freshness and great
persistence.
2015 Bethel Heights • Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard Rating – 92
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard opens with beautiful
floral notes of roses and violets with red currants, oolong tea, cinnamon stick and underbrush
in the background. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers ripe, concentrated red berry and savory
flavor layers with a firm, grainy backbone and good length. Drink Date 2017 – 2022
2015 Bethel Heights • Pinot Noir Aeolian Rating – 90
A blend from a small section of the property, the 2015 Pinot Noir Aeolian is scented of black
raspberries, red currants and red roses with hints of dried Provence herbs, black pepper and
sandalwood plus a hint of bark. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling red berry and
earthy flavors with a frame of chewy tannins and lively acidity, finishing with herbal nuances.