Community Tasting Note

• csimm wrote: 97 points

  September 9, 2021 - BLIND REDS - Bordeaux varietals (mostly Napa and BDX) - Over/Under $100: Holy shirtless Vladimir Putin on a Clydesdale! What sort of wicked concoction from the entrails of Hades hath been presented before me here? If Chris Hemsworth was a Starbucks barista in charge of vehemently hucking quadruple espressos down your slackjaw facehole, he might as well be flinging mags of the 2019 Bevan Crane at your noggin as well. Titanic black berry flavors broadsword fight with fresh black coffee grounds, cardamon, and char notes in an epic clash of evil versus evil. At once black and dense, and then insanely dynamic and fresh, this 2019 is the 2018 Crane on steroids (if you ever thought that was possible). It’s loud and proud in its current state, which should settle down with time, but its “settling down” means it will eventually just be a megatsunami instead of the current worldwide calamity of Poseidon.
  
  Helpful hint: Make sure to bust out a crater-sized coffee filter to figuratively strain out some of the black murderous viscousness that pumps through the zombie arteries of this Tyrannosaurus tonic. Hold for a decade, unless you like the feeling of black tar peeling off the front of your face.
  
  PS: I liked this wine quite a bit, but if you have even the slightest sensitivity to needing immediate nuance or have a propensity to get uppity about finesse in wine, don’t even bother with this. It’s great because its super rad, not because it’s cosmopolitan. In fact, if you actually use words like “cosmopolitan” or say “Namaste” to your yoga friends, or if you’ve ever taken a yoga class at all in your entire life, best venture elsewhere.

  19 people found this helpful 6,777 views

31 Comments

• Geaux Tigers commented:

  9/9/21, 6:07 PM - I think this heavenly concoction will make the ‘18 version seem simple! It’s that good!

• csimm commented:

  9/9/21, 10:22 PM - Totally agree. The 2019 is without question a step up from 2018. An extra tick up in freshness, intensity, and concentration.

• michigan dogs commented:

  9/13/21, 4:44 PM - Loved the write up, wish I could drink wine with you, has to be an experience! I can't imagine drinking a wine this expensive - I'' just have to experience it thru your notes.

• csimm commented:

  9/13/21, 5:41 PM - Hi Michigan! Well, maybe next time you’re in the Napa area we can share a bottle of some ‘expressive’ wine and you can see if I’m putting too much mustard on it! :) ... Plus, if you’ve ever spent even 5 minutes with Russell Bevan (and his wines), he fills an entire room with so much expression that it usually trumps anyone else sitting around him. Ha!

• srh commented:

  9/23/21, 2:36 PM - WOW! THANK you OH so much for putting a BIG time smile on my face with this *sensational* TN! 👍 😂

• csimm commented:

  9/23/21, 3:20 PM - Thanks srh.

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  1/15/22, 6:16 PM - So good. Thanks for allowing me to be at the tasting with you!

• csimm commented:

  1/15/22, 10:55 PM - Lite! One of these days we will actually connect up and taste together!

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  1/16/22, 10:24 AM - Will be fun. Sick so enjoying drinking wine through CT :)

• csimm commented:

  1/16/22, 9:11 PM - Ah man I'm sorry. Get better soon. Stupid Omicron!

• LiteItOnFire commented:

  1/16/22, 9:36 PM - Thank you.

• TMOVino2 commented:

  6/2/22, 3:39 PM - I was literally laughing out loud reading this. Hoping to snag a couple next week!

• csimm commented:

  6/2/22, 3:41 PM - Hey TMO. Get your face shield ready for this one...! :)

• Mark1npt commented:

  6/7/22, 10:30 AM - Wickedly funny note, Csimm.....I bought my allotment, just now.

• TMOVino2 commented:

  6/7/22, 10:41 AM - Sadly, I wasn’t allocated Dr. Crane…😞

• csimm commented:

  6/7/22, 10:54 AM - If ya'll love Crane, I mean, LOVE Crane, then this wine has so much love hucked right at you that you'll be in hog heaven. TMO... keep at it with your allocation. I suspect you may score some if you are able to 'wish' or, better yet, email direct and see what kind of strings you can pull - that's just some secret advice between you and me..... and the thousands of others reading this :)

• TMOVino2 commented:

  6/7/22, 11:12 AM - I did consider emailing. Not even a wish option. Honesty, never had any Crane but the entry price and scoring were reasonable compared to waiting to see if I ever get Realm Crane. Got 3 other allocations drops today so guess my money is going elsewhere for now.

• Mark1npt commented:

  6/7/22, 11:14 AM - TMO....I second Csimm's advice!

• csimm commented:

  6/7/22, 11:16 AM - Ya, today has been a release day for a gaggle of wineries. Well, the good news is there's always great wine to spend your money on. Though Beckstoffer may disagree, there are other top shelf sites in Napa that don't necessarily bear his name. Best of luck!

• GQG commented:

  6/7/22, 11:24 AM - Too funny csimm! Glad you added in a PS that you liked it. One of my Bevan reviews confused some people who weren't sure if I liked it or not so I should have done the same. Bought my allocation today as well, Mark.

• csimm commented:

  6/7/22, 11:41 AM - GQG. I make the mistake of thinking people know what I'm talking about with my often-iconoclastic or driveling tasting notes. I try to be only mildly off-putting with my notes, (j/k), even on wines I love. Bevan wines can be quite polarizing for sure. Personally, if I'm not in the right headspace for it, my palate just gets instantly battered and I'm done for the night. He is definitely burning the candle at both ends with his unabashed style, and he is unapologetic about it. More power to him. It is a representation of excess, but I'm not mad about it at all. There is certainly a place for these mega monsters, and Bevan usually knows how to do 'em up right. As mentioned, I just gotta be ready for these grape apes when I have an itch for them. I mean, I don't love a blue cheese Smashburger every day, but every so often I get a hankering!

• Mark1npt commented:

  6/7/22, 12:01 PM - That's a very apt and accurate description, CS........

• GQG commented:

  6/7/22, 1:31 PM - Csimm, I agree that a Bevan Mega Monster at the right time and place is special because not many Napa Vineyards can do it as well and there's nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Well, Barossa has a few Mega monsters that I love too, and likewise there's nothing like those anywhere else in the world. I always say it's nice to have choices.

• TMOVino2 commented:

  6/7/22, 3:21 PM - GQG - what are your Barossa favorites? I’ve grown fond of some of their big wines!

• GQG commented:

  6/7/22, 3:36 PM - Rusden Black Guts is one, especially if you can find the 2005, 2006, or 2007 which have aged really well.

• Zoso commented:

  6/20/22, 7:08 AM - One of the most entertaining and helpful notes I've ever read! Thanks for the LOL

• csimm commented:

  6/20/22, 8:19 AM - Thanks Zoso. I find it difficult to write any tasting note on a Bevan wine without using at least a few circumlocutory adjectives and polysyllabic words. :)

• Mark1npt commented:

  6/20/22, 9:39 AM - Tru, dat'.

• csimm commented:

  6/20/22, 9:53 AM - LOL Mark...!

• Mark1npt commented:

  6/20/22, 10:16 AM - Sorry pal....the devil made me do it!

• AGELVIS commented:

  4/1/23, 6:10 AM - csimm - You live in Napa? My wife and I will be there next week (long Easter weekend). If you’re nearby, let’s connect (jgrunlan@gmail.com). I can send you my itinerary offline. We seem to have similar palates. Cheers my friend!

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