Tom Casagrande

9.0

This is nicely done. A bit on the “in your face” side, it’s got loads of rich, plummy Merlot fruit, a fair whack of French oak, and loamy earth notes. Rich, darkly fruity, a bit chocolatey in the mouth. Still a fair amount of soft, side-of-the-mouth-clingy tannin left. More youthful than its 12-year age. 15% alcohol. I prefer a slightly more reserved style, but this is impressive in its own way. — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Seems like this has a tad more depth and complexity than the 2020 I had a few months ago. I love the deep, iodiney minerally notes in the nose, intertwining with dark ripe/sour cherry. Great balance in the mouth. Soft full and fresh. Great value. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

One of the best Chablis I’ve had in the past 10 years or so. Amazing. And so classical. Old school green-tinged crystalline gold color. Nose features barely ripe apple fruit, intensely brothy, wet sea shell limestone minerality. I could sniff this forever. So vibrant and alive on the palate. Packed with flavor but shot-through with minerality that freshens it. Nice acids. Slight bitterish note in the long finish. Walks that tightrope of intensity with counterbalancing energy. Vaulorent really ought to be a grand cru. Heck, it’s on the same damn hill! — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

A Louis Jadot project in Oregon, this is really nicely done. Very Meursault-like nose features toasty oak notes, oatmeal, wet limestoney seeming earth (is there even any limestone in the Willamette Valley?). Nice appley/pear fruit. Acids are unsurprisingly softer than the Côte d’Or, but the flavors are spot-on. Loads of fruit and mineral-inflected earth. Slight bitter note in the finish is welcome. Really good! — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Prior notes on this still seem apt. Clearly picked earlier than usual and rendered a crisper, lighter rendition than other vintages I’ve had. I’m sure they had their reasons. Very good, but leaves me wondering what might have been. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

A relatively complex Bojo, with the nose displaying deep, vibrant cherry fruit, a slight barnyard/sauvage note, and lots of crushed granite. In the mouth it’s dense but lean and more minerally than fruity. Great acids and a long finish. Seems a little youthfully disjointed as yet, so a little more bottle age should assist. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is the Andis Wines Friedlander Block Old Vine Zin from the Shenandoah Valley AVA in Amador County. Picked it up on our trip there last August. It’s a big boi. Intense brambly fruit on the nose. A bit of oak. Rich but balanced in the mouth. Packing plenty of finely-grained tannins and decent acids. Only 14.2%. Really nice. — 14 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

A favorite for decades, I just love this wine. Perfumey and fragrant, with deep floral notes, turned earth, sappy dark berries, incense, spice. On the palate it’s less unctuous than the nose suggests, and more linear. A tad reserved initially, but then the deep concentration and length kick in. Very savory flavors. A vibrancy echoes on the finish. One of the best renditions I can remember. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I sold Barolos and Barbarescos from this winery with the first importer I worked for back in the early 80s. It’s been in the decanter about an hour, and though the lightish color shows maturity, some fruit is emerging g to join with the intense mahogany furniture/old library scents. Incense too, along with faded rose petals. Very classic. In the mouth, it’s powerful and somewhat austere. Not a fruity wine. Still a fair amount of tannin present. The austerity and power will pair nicely with the braised oxtails (coda alla vaccinara) that are almost ready. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Brought a bottle of this to a backyard cookout 2 weeks ago but there was so much lighter fluid and charcoal smoke I have zero idea what it smelled or tasted like. Luckily, I have another bottle and no smoke tonight! A fairly saturated color for a Loire Pinot, and the nose is deeply fruity. Loads of smoky, flinty, underbrushy, slightly resinous notes too. Lovely! On the palate, it’s fairly low-toned, with bass-note dark cherry and berry fruit. Lots of limestoney minerality. Acids a tad on the lower side for this AOC, but delicious and deep. — 11 days ago