Community Tasting Note

• msuwine wrote: 95 points

  May 28, 2019 - It’s a showdown in Oakville! Tench is the scene... 2015 is the vintage... Bevan vs. Bevan is the question. Drinking the Bevan Cellars Tench and the Addax Tench at the same time is like watching the same race car driver in the same vehicle driving a stick shift (yes, I speak to ye of the olde times!). The Addax pushes it to the fifth gear; the Bevan finds the sixth. Russell drives each wine in style, and the question becomes: how fast do you want to go?
  
  Both wines are aromatic, complex, delicious - and at the far end of the spectrum of modern wines done right (i.e., ripe and explosive, but structured and lively). Within this end of the spectrum, though, the differences are clear. The Bevan is more dark, viscous, and intense. The Addax is more floral, nimble, and bright (while still resembling the vinous equivalent of an aircraft carrier - i.e., it’s big). I preferred the Bevan for the sheer audacity and depth of it all, but it must be said that the Bevan is more heavy and expensive ($60 more on release).
  
  - Addax (95+). Dark red in color and full in body, this wine offers an incredible nose of blueberry, cocoa powder, graphite, and herbs. Tastes of black cherry, blueberry, bay leaf, and peppercorn, with a silky and sweet finish that has more lift than the Bevan. 14.7%. I liked this better than the bottle I had a few weeks ago, which is always a good sign. Drink in next 3-5 years, with the window really opening in 2020.
  
  - Bevan (96-97). Dark purple in color and (even more) full in body, the wine offers a more pungent nose of boysenberry, granite, mocha, and gravel. More extracted and concentrated tastes of blueberry pie, milk chocolate, and baking spices, with a silky and more creamy finish than the Addax. 15.4% alcohol. Drink in next 3-7 years, with the window really opening in 2021.
  
  The Bevan is driving as fast as you can in your parent’s car, blasting Pearl Jam (or whatever your age appropriate rebellious and loud and passionate music might be), without a care in the world except taking a last chance power drive. The Addax is trying to capture that feeling while recognizing that life is fragile, that speed limits exist for a reason, that surviving until tomorrow has a value, whatever the reckless joy that the moment might offer.
  
  Both wines are ridiculous (like this note!), but I vote with the crazy ones. Try each, and see for yourself.

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1 Comment

• blarmston commented:

  5/28/19, 10:21 PM - Entertaining note for sure!
  
  Haven’t had the Bevan version but have enjoyed several of the Addax. It’s a fantastic wine but not for the faint of heart. I do love me some Tench!

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