BevX Reviews – Different By Design
Below is a quick look at our latest reviews published at BevX October 18, 2023. 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
Troon Vineyard Syrah Applegate Valley 2021
Troon Vineyard has gone all-in on Syrah and they are setting a standard for Syrah on America’s west coast. Troon’s Syrah is more balanced and restrained than most New World Syrah with moderate alcohol and an ideal balance of acidity — it’s certainly made in the mold of the Rhone Valley. All of Troon’s Syrahs have been age-worthy but this 2021 vintage will improve for a decade or more…
See the Beverage of the Week feature
Latest Reviews
Wine Reviews
Tablas Creek Grenache Blanc Adelaida District 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, medium gold/green color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of citrus zest and lemon curd with supporting notes of slate, lemon grass, and spring flowers, with hints of ginger, and jasmine. The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, grapefruit, green apple, and bees wax. The finish is crisp with subtle apple skin tannins and tart citrus accents. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. $40 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District 2021
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of bramble and five spice with supporting notes of black currant, saddle leather, and cocoa nibs. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, elderberry, black tea, garrigue, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty yet nimble texture. Made with a blend of 35% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 7% Vaccarese, 5% Cinsaut, and 4% Counoise. $70 – 4.5 Stars/96 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry and mineral with supporting notes of star anise, tamari, and cigar box. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, bramble, black currant, cocoa, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a chewy texture. Made with a blend of 54% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 3% Counoise, and 1% Terret Noir. $28 – 4.5 Stars/94 points
Tablas Creek Mourvedre Adelaida District 2021
See the Full BevX Featured Review Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black plum and dried fruits with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, and slate. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of blackberry, tapenade, five spice, and pomegranate. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins and tart black fruits. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with 100% Mourvèdre — our favorite Tablas Creek Mourvedre to date. $55 – 5 Stars/97 points
Spirits Reviews
Disaronno Velvet Liqueur
Creamy, opaque alabaster appearance. The nose is largely reminiscent of classic Amaretto with pretty floral scents with candied almonds, apricot stone, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, chocolate and fruit-driven core with waves of vanilla cream and chocolate covered cherries. Medium-bodied and very silky being quite viscous and long lingering on the palate. $34.99 – 3.5 Stars
Disaronno Originale Liqueur
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is nostagilc offering scents of Italian almond cookies, nougat, marzipan, and cherry with accents of orange peel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich yet nimble almond, marzipan-driven core with accents of cherry, candied orange peel, and caramel. Medium-bodied and simply seductive (again, nostalgia is playing a big part) with complex sweet flavors with just enough Amaro-like notes to keep it balanced $29.99 – 4 Stars
Glenglassaugh Sandend Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, pale golden color. The nose is amazingly sweet with scents of honey and Sherry in the lead followed by butter toffee, tropical fruits, candied orange peel, and hints of chocolate. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a sweet, fruit and caramel center with waves of honey, fruit, and citrus with peppery spices rising on the finish. Full-bodied with a near dessert-like quality kept savory by notes of citrus, spice, and oak. $70 – 4.5 Stars
Glenglassaugh Portsoy Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant amber color. The nose reveals a beautifully smoky, peated Whisky with waves of dried fruits, orange peel, slate, Sherry, and toffee with hints of sea grass and dried red berries. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a surprisingly vibrant and nimble fruit and caramel-driven core with generous dark chocolate, treacle, sea salt, and charred tropical fruit accents. Full-bodied while being amazingly light on its feet with trailing peat fire and chocolate notes. $75 – 4.5 Stars
Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant golden color with a touch of copper. The aromatics are utterly charming and complex with generous scents of dried apricot, pears, and hints of raspberry with supporting notes of butterscotch, toasted walnuts, topical fruits, and vanilla accented oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and viscous fruit-driven core with waves of toasted nuts, caramel, vanilla cream, and hints of dried cherry. Full-bodied with a pleasingly viscous that lingers for minutes tamed by sea salt, dried fruits, and oak. $65 – 4.5 Stars