Tom Casagrande

9.2

After-party notes. This was surprisingly tight and crisp and structured for a an Alsace sparkler. Really fine. Great value. — 20 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Last of three bottles of this delicious Crozes. Nose is all over the place, with an initial funky (poopy) note that blows off quickly to reveal minerals, orchid florals, roasted asparagus, roast beef, dark fruit, and granitic minerality. Intense but beautifully balanced in the mouth. Soft textured and very savory/ minerally. Such a ridiculous value. Sorry to drain the last one but happy while draining it! — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

From a very old vineyard. Medium color saturation. I love the nose: classic Dry Creek Zin scents of exceedingly pure spicy blackberry juice, a bit of dark raspberry, and warm sandstoney gravel. Really nice balance on the palate. Surprisingly lip-smacking acidity zips along the somewhat austere (for a Zin) and minerally flavors. Structured almost like a left bank Bordeaux. I really like this . . . but . . . it’s just a tad leaner and more reserved on the palate than my ideal. That said, this will age slowly for a Zin and would pair with a wide variety of meals. Only 14.5% alc., mercifully. 9.1 for now but may go a bit higher in a few years. — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

It’s really infanticide to drink this, but I have a few bottles and wanted to see where this was. Even after 2+ hours in a decanter, it’s still tightly wound up. Subtle dark cherry and tree bark scents reluctantly emerge. On the palate the tannins are present but nicely managed, and there’s ample acids. Re-check in several years. For now, 8.9 but with lots of upside. — 16 days ago

with Rebecca

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Medium intensity nose has golden plum, a fresh floral note, and some crushed stone. It’s pretty large-framed in the mouth. The acids are on the lowish side, but it’s got a minerality and a slight bitter note as the finish progresses that enlivens it. Good flavor intensity. The alcohol pooks through a little, but it should be nice with Milanese cutlets. — 21 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Red fruits are the star with this one. Loads of crunchy ripe red berries on the nose, complicated by a slightly musky granitic minerality. Intense fruit concentration in the mouth, with nice acids keeping it in balance. There’s a little bit of tannin here, but you have to concentrate on it to discern it underneath the waves of fruit; fairly voluptuous in the mouth. A wine to enjoy young. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is the Celine Cote Bourgogne Epineuil Rouge, from a town up near the Chablis region. Popped and double decanted to separate a little sediment already forming. Nose is super-bright, crisp but sappy cherries and moist limestoney soil notes. Nice intensity and juiciness in the mouth. There are zingy acids too, and a little soft, whisky tannin buried in the fruit. Really nice purity. The finish is dry, long, and turns quite mineral. What a nice value this is. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.7

I like the nose. Bright and peachy. Some clean high-toned crushed stone. On the palate, nice intensity on initial entry, but a short-ish finish. Nice for weeknight dinner. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Pop n pour. Given that it’s 70% Mourvèdre, the color is surprisingly light. (There’s 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah too.) Medium color saturation. Inviting nose of a melange of ripe berries and a smoky embers note. Crushed rock behind that. Soft and intensely flavored in the mouth, with the berries less prominent, jousting with dark earthy and pleasantly vegetal notes. Soft but balanced acids and tannins almost silky. Really nice. Terrific value at $25 from WTSO. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Exceedingly light colored. Nose is medium intensity, with light cherry and rose petals, and some tertiary notes already announcing themselves in the form of dusty library books and underbrush. In the mouth, there’s a surprising amount of chalky tannin for such a light-colored wine, and while prominent, they’re not out of balance, particularly with food. Good flavor intensity with dried cherry notes that turn savory and leathery/minerally. Better with food but sipping’s pretty nice too. — 14 days ago