BevX Reviews – Different By Design
Below is a quick look at our latest reviews published at BevX November 11, 2020. Click the links to get the score and the full analysis of each beverage. Every Wednesday we release new stories, introduce our latest reviews, and send our subscribers their weekly, free digital newsletter. (Subscribe here.)
We had another busy week at BevX with new, tasty beverage reviews to share.
We have shifted our reviews format in order to offer more reviews for our review hungry readers. The review pages (links below) will now offer a full tasting note with links to a full detail review for our Featured Beverages.
As always you see all of our reviews here:
Beverage of the Week
2Hawk Viognier Rogue Valley 2018 2Hawk says that 2018 was a “textbook Rogue Valley Indian Summer vintage.” This wine is an absolute beauty that celebrates the essence of Viognier. In 2018 the temperatures were incredibly constant through the summer without the typical heat-spikes… See the Beverage of the Week feature
Latest Reviews
Wine Reviews
Tablas Creek Mourvedre Adelaida District 2018
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of black plum and leather with supporting notes of black tea, boysenberry, and smoked meats. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black currant, raspberry, five spice, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with fine, chalky tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a opulent texture with endless layers of fruit and spice. $45 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tablas Creek Grenache Adelaida District 2018
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of wild strawberry and red cherry with supporting notes of fresh herbs, rare red meat, and violet. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of red plum, raspberry, cigar box, and boysenberry. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins and hints of pepper. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a opulent texture. $35 5 Stars/97 points
Spirits Reviews
Christian Drouin Vintage 2000 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant copper to amber color. The aromatics are complex, beautiful, and a bit unexpected with intense wild honey notes in the lead supported by Christmas fruit cake, cinnamon, Nutella, and baked apples. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices, walnut toffee, and cashew butter with hints of ginger. Ideally balanced with great length and weight. $90 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1990 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant amber color. The nose is wonderfully complex offering beautiful scents of orange peel, baked orchard fruits, sweet dates, honey, brown baking spices, and hints of a sweet turf fire. The palate echoes the nose delivering the promise of the nose in three dimensions with ripe, sweet peach and apple in the lead supported by notes of five spice, candied ginger, cardamon, and oak. The flavors linger on the palate for minutes. Lush and rich with perfect balance displaying impeccable grace with power. We reviewed Christian Drouin’s 1990 vintage a decade ago and loved it. It has only risen in stature since 2010. $180 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1980 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is vibrant with the scents of rich, baked apples and sweet red fruits supported by waves of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet cigar tobacco, oak, and hints of vanilla. The palate is equally rich and decadent with loads of baking spice flavors that elevate the rich fruit finishing with spicy ginger, black pepper, and oak notes. Ideally balanced with incredible length and weight contrasted by bright acidity and peppery accents. We tasted the 1980 vintage 10 years ago and this release, with 10 more years in cask (giving more red fruit accents) this lovely Calvados has vastly improved. $350 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1970 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Deep, brilliant copper/amber color. The nose deftly marries the scents of rich, baked apple and sweet caramel contrasted by vibrant cider notes with accents of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, red currant, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and decadent apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, toffee, red fruits, and rich vanilla cream. Ideally balanced with great length and weight. We tasted this great Calvados 10 years younger and it was great and continues to be a great Vintage Calvados. $499 – 5 Stars