Tom Casagrande

8.8

I don’t know that Ridge has ever done an early release, inexpensive blend of leftover odds and ends like this. It’s 59% Zin, 18% Carignane (a/k/a “Kerrigan” 🙂), 13% Petite Sirah, and 10% Cabernet. Nose is juicy/ fruity right out of the gate with Zin blackberry augmented with red berries. Palate balances the fruitiness with a loamy gravel note. There’s a bit of youthful but soft tannin, and decent acidity. I’m detecting some RS that I wish was not there, but this would sure be a crowd pleaser at a cookout with burgers or pizza night. Nice for $20! — 25 minutes ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

This capped off a Tuscan red tasting dinner that went by too fast to really take any notes (the 2019 Tenuta Colonna Bolgheri Superiore and 2016 Tenuta Di Sesta Brunello were standouts). This freakin rocks, not super sweet but with such richness and complexity. Sneaky zingy acids buoy it all up. Ridiculous finish. Wowza. — 5 days ago

with Dan and Angelo

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Sometimes (usually when pasta with a tomato and salsiccia sauce is on the stove) I just gotta have a straightforward Ripasso. This fits the bill. Color a little lighter than expected. Nose has ripe fresh and dried cherry fruit, slight notes of sweet spice and turned earth. A bit more drying on the palate than I expected. Loads of that Valpo almond thing go along with the dark cherry fruit. On the leaner style for a Ripasso, there’s a little bitter note in the finish, which works well with the meal. Solid. — 13 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

I opened a nice red burg on a weekday evening to honor a friend from work who passed. He and I talked about Burgundy a lot.

The color is fairly light but the nose leaps out of the glass with limestoney-inflected moist gravel, deep ripe, oozing cherries, and a musky floral note. Richly flavored on the palate, but light in texture. Excellent acids. Stony mineral and saline notes in equipoise with the fruit. Fairly chiseled in texture, with super soft tannins in the background. Lengthy finish. Superb. Here’s to you my friend. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Surprised how much I like this! I’m not a fan of Argentine Malbec, as a rule. But Cab Franc? Different story. Nose has graphite, roasted herbs, walnut husks, dark cherry. Mouthfilling and soft, this is deep and balanced. Very old world impression from this. — 7 days ago

with Rebecca and Angelo

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Very good but not up to the ridiculously high bar set by the ‘21 version. I’d drink these up if you have ‘em because I’m detecting that it’s lost a step since I last popped one several months ago. Thanks to my brother Angelo for this one! — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.6

A lot riper and jammier than the ‘22 iteration. Too much so in my view. Nose has lots of deep, oozing dark berry fruit. A little warm caramel and a spirity note. Jammy and a bit hot in the mouth. Low acids and a shortish finish. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

A botanical amaro made with Nebbiolo and Barbera. Intensely herbal and rooty nose, with ripe fruit underneath. So aromatic. In the mouth the botanicals hits first, then ripe fruit, and in the finish the botanicals make a reprise. Slightly sweet. Unique and delicious. . — 7 days ago

with Rebecca and Angelo

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Second bottle in a month. My September notes largely apply. I wouldn’t leave those much longer. Enjoy soon!

UPDATE: This was better on night 2 (easily a 9.2) and held solid on night 3, so maybe my initial reaction to drink up is a bit alarmist! — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Delectable has like seven different versions of this wine in its ID function, which dilutes people’s ratings and impressions. Bummer. Dense color with a little bricking at the rim. Love the classic Pessac nose: earthy, cured tobacco verging on something vaguely vegetal, dark plummy fruit. Deep on the palate. Coats the mouth with rich, earthy flavors and deep fruit. Lots of tannin still but the flavor density does a pretty good job overriding it. Will definitely age. I clearly opened it too early in its development. — 15 days ago