BevX Latest Reviews for the week of February 25, 2026

Below is a quick look at our latest reviews published at BevX on February 25, 2026. Click the links to get each beverage’s score and full analysis. Every Wednesday, we release new stories, introduce our latest reviews, and send 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 review format to offer more reviews for our review-hungry readers. The review pages (links below) will now feature a full tasting note, along with links to a comprehensive, detailed review of our Featured Beverages.

Sean Ludford’s book, Be A Beverage Expert (BABE), provides context for our weekly reviews, helping readers understand the materials, processes, and history of wine, beer, and spirits. Get a copy of BABE at Amazon.

As always, you can see all of our reviews here — BevX Reviews

Beverage of the Week

Goose Island Matilda (USA) Matilda is the ideal Beer to present to your “wine only” friends. They will be won over by this Beer’s complex and unique flavors. They may even be shocked that Beer can be like this while all of us Beer fans have known what great is capable of for some time.
See the Beverage of the Week feature

Latest Reviews

Wine Reviews

Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, medium golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of brioche, spring flowers, and lemon curd with supporting notes of apricot stone, lychee, meringue, and citrus zest. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, custard, passion fruit, and quince. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent yet vibrant texture. Incredibly nimble and luxurious and hauntingly Burgundian. $55 – 5 Stars/97 points

L’Astemia Pentita Tiradòss Bianco Langhe 2022
Brilliant, light gold/green color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of honeysuckle, blanched almonds, and pear with supporting notes of apricot stone, quince paste, and citrus zest. The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of green apple, white peach, red grapefruit, and hints of passion fruit. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. Made with a blend of Nascetta, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier. $15 – 4 Stars/91 points

Hamel Stratum Sonoma Valley 2021
Brilliant, dark ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant, graphite, and blackberry with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, violet, and slate. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, boysenberry, pomegranate, mineral, and iron. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Zinfandel. $60 – 4 Stars/93 points

Spirits Reviews

Johnnie Walker Platinum 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Deep bronze with hints of gold and copper. The nose is absolutely luxurious offering a careful marriage of fruit, rich malt, sweet grains, toffee, roasted nuts, clove, allspice, honeycomb, smoky Islay notes of peat fires, and faint sea breezes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a perfectly balanced dram that builds in intensity as it sits on the tongue. This beautiful blend offers the best of lush Speyside Whiskies punctuated by the essence of Islay with a glorious grain presence that binds it all into one seamless package. $89 – 4.5 Stars

The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, deep copper with hints of burgundy. The nose is reminiscent of Christmas with waves of brown baking spices, red fruits, and vanilla bean. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, fruity core with spice accents creating flavors redolent of fruit cake with toasted oak rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with a bright fruit and spice core framed by oak and a bright dose of acidity. This is part of The Famous Grouse’s cask series. This expression sees their original blend finished in Port seasoned casks. $34.99 – 4 Stars