Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is better than I expected (not sure why I had modest expectations). Gorgeous old school greenish tinge to the color. Boisterous nose has tons of sea shelly limestone and super bright green apple, citrusy fruit. A bit of that Chablis brothiness in the background. Lively, crisp, and intense in the mouth. Very linear. No fat at all. Just a beam of energy. — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Last bottle of this. So delicious on the deck accompanying slow roasted pork shoulder with ratatouille. Soft and deep. Sorry for the short notes but I’m hungry.

UPDATE: Ok, I’ve eaten enough to write more. This wine has the tree bark earthiness but really has loads of deep fruit. I’d like the alcohol to be a bit lower (it’s 15%), but it’s delicious so there’s that. — 7 days ago

with Rebecca

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is the 2023 Once & Future Belloni Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel. I opened this way too young. It’s hasn’t settled down at all yet. Peppery nose shows seems like a barrel sample but pristine, creamy deep blackberry fruit trying to get out. Some nice stony mineral notes. In the mouth. It’s angular, peppery, and intense. Clenches up on the finish. I feel like the tannins and angularity showing now need a little more time to calm down. Let’s revisit tomorrow. For now, a 9.0.

UPDATE: Night 2, the wine is still a little disjointed and elbowy, but showing more depth than last night. Upping score from 9.0 to 9.1. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

A surprisingly gorgeous evening in DC tonight at a favorite classic bistro. This Giggie has loads of ripe fruit, but is drinking really well already. Very soft, decent acids. Some savory notes. The alcohol (15%) pooks through on the back half of the palate. But it was served a little warmer than I’d like, so that probably amplified it. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Another delicious rendition of the “Chateau Lagrange Blanc.” Beautiful fragrance seemingly melds a little herbal, gooseberryish SB with characteristic lanolin and orchard fruit Semillon notes (I have no idea what the blend is here.) Deep, lovely, soft minerality too. Impeccable balance in the mouth. Nice but gentle acids keep the deep, long, dry palate fresh. Such a great value too. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Really nice for a basic Pouilly-Fuisse, and a great value. With a little air, the nose shows lifted, bright peach and orchard fruit, some of that nice wet straw and limestoney notes you want in a Maconnais white. Balanced in the mouth, with nicely gauged fruit, acids, and stoney notes. Not the deepest or longest, but nicely done. I’ve been very impressed with this producer. — 13 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Terrific value in a balanced and versatile Garnacha. Nose shows very pure, ripe, zesty raspberry and kirsch fruit. A bit of warm, dry gravel. In the mouth there’s a bit more structure than the fruity nose suggests, with bright acids, some very fine grained tannin, and a mineral texture I normally associate with reds grown on limestoney soil. The fruit is augmented with a prominent salinity. Not the most elegant (it’s a little elbowy), but it’s a value weeknight red that will work with lots of foods. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

A second great bottle of this. Never had this producer before this wine, but definitely will be on my radar going forward. Everything you want in a BoJo: fruit, granite, energy, depth, drinkability, balance. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Bit of a natty style Mourvèdre. A little side-of-the-glass foam upon pouring (I double decanted because of lots of loose, floaty sediment). Lots of pink grapefruit rind on the nose. That, plus the 12% alcohol, indicates purposefully picked prior to full ripeness. Fresh and quite zingy in the mouth. Tart red berry fruit. You tell its quality fruit because it still manages to linger on the palate despite less than optimal ripeness. Fun to try, but not a repeat purchase. I feel like the winemaker here was more interested in making a statement than in making wine. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Just double decanted a few minutes ago. Mature color with lots of rusty edges. Nice nose, lots of stuff, terracotta tiles, iodine, mahogany furniture, still some nice plummy fruit. Lots of life on the palate. Fruit, earth, leather flavors. Vigorous but fine grained tannins, nice acidity. On the leaner side but nice length. Really fine effort in a tough year. — 14 days ago