Subtle tropical fruit notes, with some grass, gravel, and hay flavors hitting the mid-palate with medium acidity and weight. A balanced SB, with a lighter overall effect than Bevan SBs of the past (which made for a nice, refreshing start to the tasting). More shy on the grip, acid, and intensity. Served a little warmer than I’d usually prefer. Drink now.

Similar to my previous notes last year. Dominated by popcorn and vanilla oak. A nice texture and mouthfeel, with yellow citrus, lemon curd, butter, and some glycol filling out the overall profile. Missing some tension, minerality, and energy; a little heavy mid-palate. Definitely an animal that lives in the CA domestic kingdom. Drink now.

Plum, black cherry, spice, soil, and some bourbon booze. The flavor profile hinted at a tiered delivery initially, but it became a little jammy on the mid-palate. A little wonky at this stage, suggesting some more time might be needed here. An herbal tinge competed with a wet soil/cedar note, with the alcohol washing up on the back end and dulling the finish a bit. Hard to gauge at this point in time. 88-90? For those holding bottles, I’d wait another year minimum.

All previous notes apply. Very compelling blue and black core fruit, with subtle streaks of black asphalt and river rock. A straightforward 2014 type of delivery and execution, medium complexity, medium+ bodied, with a well balanced weight and drive that pushes the flavors efficiently through the back end and on to the finish. Typical silky Bevan texture, with just enough acid and cut to keep it all together. A rounder profile than the ‘16 Wildfoote or ‘15 Tench served next to it. Drink now and over the next few years.

Displaying a wonderful amount of energy and intensity, the 2015 Tench has a captivating pop of black cherry, red and black currant, black raspberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, and some spice. A little boozy on the very tail end, but the flavors jump right back in the game and don’t get trampled on too much by the alcohol.

I would give this another year or two in bottle to unfurl and develop a little more in the seamlessness department. 94-95+ points. Hold until 2020.

A massively powerful and intense wine, packed with black core fruit. Burnt embers, scorched earth, black soil, river rock, pulverized granite, black pen ink, and some dark cassis. The front end is an onslaught of flavors and drive, with just enough texture to keep it from crossing the line into being a bruiser. This is the most powerful Wildfoote Bevan has ever crafted. Massive weight, but so much energy, it was never heavy or burdensome. The finish went on and on.

This still needs time in the bottle to better integrate and develop a more seamless glide, however, it is a mega bottle of bad-assness that demands attention. 97-98+ points. Hold until after 2020.