For years, I struggled to find the best way to convey my opinions on the Wines, Beer, and Spirits I review at BevX.com. In accordance with tradition, I set out to write the best damn tasting note I could, along with a score that would help quantify my love or disdain for a particular product.
While I am proud of this work and stand behind my reviews, I have always felt that it wasn’t enough. What I wanted was a way to convey my complete thoughts on a product in context, without becoming too verbose or wonky. I wanted to give more than the score.
After years of experimentation, I have succeeded in creating a review format that best approximates a candid conversation from a bar stool without all of the danger of joining me for drinks!
The BevX Report takes the spirit of this new conversational review format. It presents it in a colorful, easy-to-digest infographic that will be equally valuable to beverage enthusiasts, bartenders, retailers, and even brand representatives.
Feel free to download this file and share it with everyone.
Recent Favorites — BevX Report
Tongue Dancer Wines The Sly One Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2024
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Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black cherry, violet, and cassis with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, lavender, black tea, and subtle hints of tomato leaf. The palate substantially agrees with the nose, delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, black currant, baking spices, sweet thyme, and wild raspberry. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied with an opulent texture. $65 – 4.5 Stars/96 points
Tongue Dancer Wines The Sly One Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2024
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Brilliant, medium green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of green apple skins, apricot stone, and honeysuckle with supporting notes of brioche, beeswax, lemongrass, and wet river stones. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a ripe orchard fruit-driven core with flavors of lemon curd, Asian pear, citrus zest, quince, and hints of fresh ginger. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $59 – 5 Stars/97 points
We Know Jack! Jack Florence Sr. Vineyard Zinfandel Rockpile 2024
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Brilliant, dark ruby/purple color. The aromatics are intense, offering blackberry, iron, and baking-spice notes, with supporting notes of balsamic, fig, forest floor, and violet. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, boysenberry, graphite, pomegranate, and tamari. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. Made with a blend of Zinfandel 90% and Petite Sirah 10%. $60 – 4.5 Stars/96 points
Great Lakes Rehorst Gin
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Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is beautifully aromatic offering scents of citrus in the lead, supported by juniper, anise, ginger, lime leaf, and coriander, and an earthy note of ginseng. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a citrus-driven core, generous notes of lime zest and pickling spices, and a subtle vanilla accent. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a lush and silky texture that leans toward Genevere, while the finish is pure London Dry. $29 – 4.5 Stars/96 points/Exceptional!
Troon Vineyard Vermentino Applegate Valley 2025
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Brilliant, light straw color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of tropical fruit, lemon curd, and beeswax with supporting notes of meringue, green apple, and apricot stone. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a ripe, orchard-fruit-driven core with flavors of white peach, star fruit, jasmine, mineral, green melon, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering with faint tannins. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $35 – 5 Stars/97 points
Troon Vineyard Syrah Applegate Valley 2023
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Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant, boysenberry, and dried herbs with supporting notes of black tea, cocoa, rosemary, and accents of tamari. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a black-fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, five-spice, cassis, hibiscus flower tea, and hints of green peppercorns. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $45 – 5 Stars/97 points
Great Lakes Dirty Helen Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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Brilliant, medium amber color. The aromatics are very intense, presenting scents of toffee, gingerbread, and honey, with supporting notes of oak, grains, five-spice, and crème brûlée. The palate is in full accord with the nose, delivering a caramel-driven core with flavors of fruitcake, roasted nuts, cereal, and butterscotch. The finish is long and lingering. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a voluptuous texture. $49 – 5 Stars/97 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2023
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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-fruit-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, luxurious, and hauntingly Burgundian. $55 – 5 Stars/97 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vyd Irwin Lane Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2024
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Brilliant, medium gold/green color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lemon curd, meringue, and pear, with supporting notes of blanched almonds, beeswax, brioche, oak, and mineral. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a ripe, orchard-fruit-driven core with flavors of white peach, apple, lychee, green tea, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with soft tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture and a lees character redolent of Tête de Cuvée Champagne. $49 – 5 Stars/98 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Tolmasoff Vineyard Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2024
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Brilliant, light green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of apricot stone, wet stones, and pear, with supporting notes of straw, honeysuckle, beeswax, brioche, and citrus zest. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a ripe, orchard-fruit-driven core with flavors of sudachi, white peach, lemongrass, quince, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering. Medium- to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, with a supple texture. A great fruit source and a no-oak winemaking approach make this a singular wine worthy of your attention. $59 – 4.5 Stars/96 points
Broken Shed Vodka
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Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully seductive and somewhat decadent with waves of vanilla and an intriguing sweet minerality. The palate affirms the unique and complex nose, being lush and silky, with a mildly sweet citrus, pleasingly assertive minerality that finishes totally dry. Medium-bodied with a velvet-like texture that delivers waves of subtle flavors with perfect balance. Made with whey and naturally filtered water. $24.99 – 4.5 Stars/95 points/Exceptional!
Tongue Dancer Wines Rambling Fox Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2023
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Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with scents of red currant, forest floor, and hibiscus, along with supporting notes of black cherry, slate, and elderberry. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red and black fruit-driven core with flavors of tart cherry, baking spices, dried herbs, and iron. The finish is long and lingering with dry tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a ripe, chewy texture. The third vintage of TDW’s Rambling Fox has set the tone for the label. $49 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Foxtrot Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2024
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Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with scents of raspberry, dried herbs, and cassis, supported by clove, black tea, forest floor, and hints of wild lavender. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red-and-black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, five-spice, tamarind, slate, and star anise. The finish is long and lingering with ripe, chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. TDW’s Foxtrot never disappoints, stepping ideally from complex to playful without missing a beat. $49 – 4.5 Stars/96 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Vineyard eleven Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2024
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Brilliant, deep ruby color. Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with notes of pomegranate, raspberry, forest floor, and black tea, along with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, five-spice, and wild blueberry. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red-and-black fruit-driven core with flavors of semitart cherry, boysenberry, slate, and tamari, and accents of lavender. The finish is long and lingering with supple tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced, with an opulent texture. The second vintage of TDW’s Vineyard eleven Pinot is on par with the first. We sense the building of a dynasty. $69 – 5 Stars/98 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2024
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Brilliant, medium ruby color. Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with scents of red cherry, dried wild strawberry, and baking spices, along with supporting notes of clay, violet, red plum, and dried herbs. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red-and-black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, boysenberry compote, cured meats, and pomegranate. The finish is long and lingering with firm but accessible tannins and hints of tamarind. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. We see this wine as the cornerstone of the portfolio — solid, exceptional, and a benchmark of Sonoma Coast Pinot. $55 – 5 Stars/97 points
Tablas Creek Vermentino Adelaida District 2025
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Brilliant, light green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering notes of red grapefruit zest and pulp, lemongrass, and sea salt, with supporting notes of citrus zest, green tea, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a citrus-driven core with flavors of pineapple, quince, Meyer lemon, and star fruit with a ripe, Asian pear accent rising on the finish. The finish is crisp yet expansive. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. $35 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé Adelaida District 2025
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Brilliant, pale coral color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of orange peel, apricot stone, and red grapefruit with supporting notes of nectarine, slate, and hints of hibiscus. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of yellow plum, wild strawberry, golden kiwi, and wet stones. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. $28 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Blanc Adelaida District 2024
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Brilliant, medium golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of poached Asian pear, honeysuckle, and lychee with supporting notes of chamomile, citrus zest, and mineral. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a ripe, orchard-fruit-driven core with flavors of white peach, lemon curd, star fruit, wet stones, beeswax, and hints of orange peel. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied, and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $75 – 5 Stars/97 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Adelaida District 2024
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Brilliant, medium ruby/purple color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry, star anise, and black plum with supporting notes of baking spices, violet, black tea, forest floor, and slate. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red and black fruit-driven core with flavors of elderberry, blueberry, dried herbs, dark cocoa, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, with a supple texture. $28 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé de Ville, Rosé of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2025
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Brilliant, light coral color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red grapefruit, kumquat, and strawberry with supporting notes of salt, hibiscus flower, and peach pit. The palate is in full accord with the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of yellow plum, blood orange, rhubarb preserves, and slate. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $29 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2025
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Brilliant, medium coral color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, raspberry, and apricot stone with supporting notes of red grapefruit, boysenberry, and kumquat. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of strawberry, nectarine, bitter Seville orange, and hints of pomegranate. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $25 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tongue Dancer Wines The Sly One Rosé Anderson Valley 2025
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Brilliant, medium coral color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, raspberry, and apricot stone with supporting notes of red grapefruit, boysenberry, mineral, and kumquat. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of wild strawberry, mulberry, slate, and watermelon. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple yet vibrant texture. $35 – 5 Stars/97 points
We Know Jack! Riff Raff Rosé Zinfandel Rockpile 2025
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Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of star fruit, honeysuckle, and kumquat with supporting notes of red grapefruit, orange peel, and mango. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, delivering a ripe, orchard-fruit-driven core with flavors of apricot stone, strawberry, white peach, and slate. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $35 – 4.5 Stars/94 points
We Know Jack! Outta Luck Syrah Rockpile 2023
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Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black plum, mocha, and forest floor with supporting notes of black tea, boysenberry, and hints of licorice. The palate confirms the nose, delivering a black-fruit-driven core with blackberry, tamari, black cherry, cassis, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe and chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $50 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
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