Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is a delicious, food-versatile red. Blend of Carignan Mourvèdre Grenache and Syrah. Nose has lots of cherry and red berry fruit, a slightly smoky, ashy note. Great balance in the mouth. Such good fruit, a little of the Carignan angularity, tempered by the darker Mourvèdre and Syrah. Nice acids, a little tannin still, and a slightly bitter, minerally closing note. — a day ago

with Rebecca

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Truncated family party notes. So solid and typical and satisfying. As always. This Crozes is such a great value. — 3 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 2 others

Tom Casagrande

8.9

A little more open than my last bottle a year ago. Love the pure granitic stanky minerality on the nose. Some dark, tight, bright berry fruit and a spritz of pink grapefruit rind. So soft and gulpable in the mouth. Flavors veering more to the savory, stony side than fruity. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Truncated family party notes. This wine was so relaxed and comfortable in its skin. Deep flavors. Soft, luxurious texture. Vines this old are so quietly confident they don’t feel the need to try to impress anyone. I hope I reach this state someday. — 3 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 2 others

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Truncated family party notes. Crisp, fresh, zingy. Drink drink drink. Nicely done. — 3 days ago

with Douglas, Dan and 2 others

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Purchased at the winery. Had I looked at the ABV before buying (15.4), I might have applied my “no 15” rule. But I was a little tipsy and carefree by that point (it was the 4th winery). It’s actually quite nice. Despite the high alc, the wine it neither jammy nor hot. Nose is ripe, showcasing ripe red fruit notes, with a subtle waft of smoke and clean crushed rock. In the mouth it’s soft and quite nicely balanced. Nice intensity of flavor. Decent, soft acids, a dry feel, and a bit of soft tannin integrated nicely within it all. So this appears to be an exception to my rule. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Truncated family party notes. Nose is high toned. Loads of stony mineral, a little herbal note, crisp dark cherry. So nicely composed on the palate. Think a mature Saint-Emilion from a classic (not too hot) year. , — 3 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 2 others

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Truncated family party notes. Interesting nose. A little aged, port-like character in the nose. But in the mouth it’s chalky and fresh. Nice. — 3 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 2 others

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Truncated family party notes. Straight down the middle fastball of a Giggie. Big but balanced. Fruit and stony garrigue. Some tannin, soft but significant. Nice value! — 4 days ago

with Dan, Rebecca and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

8.9

A little Monday night Lagrein/ACC pairing. Lagrein is a grape I drink once a decade, if that. I can never quite figure out what, ideally, to pair it with. So tonight it’s washing down a nice, basic beef-and-veggie stir fry. The nose shows dark, slightly pungent purple mountain berries, and a whiff of licorice and cracked marble. Nice concentration on the palate, with soft tannin buried in the core. A drier, chiseled mouthfeel. Nice balance. 13.5% alcohol is nicely integrated. — 8 days ago