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Beta

The winding road goes up above Diamond Creek, Von Strasser and Reverie. We are in Diamond Mountain, one of the more isolated spots in Napa Valley. A sharp left turn leads to the dramatic property, with its huge clearings and two log cabins. The estate shares a border with Constant off in the distance, but otherwise, the feeling up here is pretty solitary. This is where proprietor Ketan Mody lives and plies his craft.

Mody left behind a successful career in Atlanta working for a large credit card company for what he describes as a more fulfilling life surrounded by nature and a decidedly human scale. Along the way, Mody honed his winemaking chops as a cellar rat at Harlan and Failla, which at the time also hosted a handful of custom crush clients, most notably Rosemary Cakebread and Françoise Peschon.

Today, Mody divides his time among several projects; the Beta wines are made from purchased fruit. Currently the range includes Cabernets from Chuy (more commonly known as Montecillo) in Sonoma and Vare in Napa Valley, with plans to add more fruit sources in the near future. Within the next few months, Mody will be planting his own Diamond Mountain property. Naturally, it will be quite a few years before those wines are made and released. Mody intends to plant each vine on its own stake, which is pretty much unheard of in present-day Napa Valley. Aging, bottling and all operations will be done on site, which will entail considerable work given the rugged landscape. In the meantime Mody also spends time developing vineyards for a number of top wineries in Napa Valley.

Don't be fooled by Mody's cool demeanor and tattoos. Despite his classic-leaning palate, passion for living outdoors and desire to do everything by hand, Mody is not part of the younger generation of winemakers who have taken a highly reactionary view to picking dates, ripeness and other hot topics in viticulture and winemaking; his sensibility is more refined than that because it is much more worldly and accepting of different inputs. Even though he is quite young, Mody has been through his share of ups and downs. That life history is reflected in deeply spiritual wines imbued with real personality. The first wines I have tasted point to a brilliant, emerging talent. Readers with a passion for structured, pulsating Cabernets will want to get on the mailing list right away. The world is made up of leaders and followers. By definition, most people are followers. Ketan Mody is a leader.

From Sonoma, Anderson Valley and Beyond: New Releases (Jan 2015) by Antonio Galloni

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2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

Release Price: $69

Color: Red

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2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

Release Price: $69

Color: Red

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

Release Price: $69

Color: Red

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vare Vineyard

Release Price: $69

Color: Red

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Beta

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Chuy Vineyard

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vare Vineyard

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