Tom Casagrande

9.2

I’ve rarely had a Zin as Burgundian-styled as this is. Medium color saturation. Gorgeous nose of oozy ripe red and black berry fruit and a warm terra cotta tiles and sandstone earthiness. Alcohol (only 14.3%) and tannin all in balance. Long finish. — 21 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Wowza. Just double-decanted this to accompany osso buco Milanese. Right out of the gate, the nose is singing. Amazing tertiary scents of just-conditioned rich mahogany and deep earthy spice accompany bright mineral/flecked damp earth, and ripe cherry fruit with a berryish overtone. Earthy and linear on the palate. There’s still some fruit, but it’s quite savory and mineral. Very clingy and with bright acids in the long finish. Can’t wait for the braise to be ready to have with this. Superb. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

My last bottle of the 2020, one of the riper versions I’ve had of this consistently excellent cuvée. Such deeply ripe gooseberry fruit that it crosses over into tropical. But there’s loads of freshness in the form of limestoney mineral scents. Ripe and deep on entry, but then the sneaky acids and the minerality clamps down, making the finish mouthwatering. Terrific accompaniment to our simple broiled haddock weeknight dinner. — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

It’s got spice, lychee, pear, and some nice subtle stony minerality in the nose. On the palate it’s off-dry, but has fairly nice balancing acids (for a Gewurz). This is a Gewurz that avoids cloyingness, which can be an issue for some people, very well. For me, a Gewurz fan, this is outstanding. — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

One of my favorite wines to have with basic pasta with tomato sauces (with or without meat) is Argentine Bonarda. Unfortunately we’re overrun with effing Malbec and Bonarda remains hard to find in the states, even though it’s widely grown in Argentina. This has the classic dark, purply color. Tangy dark mountain berries, crushed rocks, and bitter herbs on the nose. A blast of flavor initially, fading quickly into lingering minerals and acids. (A flavor profile that just works with the aforementioned pasta.). Cheap and good. Glad I stumbled on this. (Not sure why @Delectable Wine published my notes a second time as a comment 🤷) — 7 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

The label also says “Le Mourre de la Caille,” but I’m not sure if that’s just a motto for the domaine or it’s a different cuvée. It’s a 70/20/10 GSM. Only 14% alcohol. The nose is invitingly fruity, with deep spicy dark berry fruit and a little of the old time Southern Rhone iodiney minerality. Mouthfilling, with deeply fruity, low-toned dark berry fruity and savory flavors. It’s ripe but not too ripe or jammy. And there’s quite a bit of soft tannin buried under the fruit-alanche. I really like this. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

I opened and double decanted this more out of curiosity than a desire to have it accompany our braised lamb shanks. I had a bottle of it back around 2013 or 2014 and it was about as impenetrably tannic as a wine could be. Undrinkable at that time. So I kept the other bottle in the cellar and forgot about it. At age 20, it’s actually pretty good, and I think it would appeal especially to those (looking at you @Doug Powers ) who appreciate aged wine. My brother Angelo’s notes from a bottle a few months ago nail it. Rich nose, full of interesting tertiary scents. There’s still some fruit though. Piercing acids. And the tannins still there but has softened considerably. It’s not my jam, pleasure-wise, but it’s quite interesting and I have to give this credit for aging quite nicely. — 13 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

A delicious, if young, Alsace Pinot Noir. Medium intensity, youthful color. Nose charges out of the batter’s box with musky, fragrant cherries, crushed stone and meadow soil, and a bit of exotic spice. Dry bit with delicious fruit on palate entry, turning lean and emphasizing chalky but soft tannins, good acids, and savory minerals as the palate progresses. A lot of fun to drink now but plainly will get even more interesting over the next few years. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

This dirt-cheap 80% Montepulciano 20%Sangiovese from my ancestral homeland is pretty good. Tons of earthy, leathery fruit on the nose. Bright, zingy and super-youthful palate feel. Lots of tangy fruit. Those who love zestiness will like this now; I think it’ll calm down and be even better in a year. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

This is the Stadtbrediimus Coteaux Auxerrois. And it’s yet and another value-priced winner from Luxembourg. Such pure orchard fruit on the nose, and some wet straw earthy scents. Crisp, pure and very fruity on the palate. Not complex but very fun. — 12 days ago