Tom Casagrande

9.3

From Amador County fruit, the “Cracked Egg” is a reference to the egg it was fermented in, which had a crack in it due to an unloading “incident.” It’s a really nice Viognier. Fragrant with ripe pear, guava, and musky but subtle florals. Lots of flavor but balanced with pretty good acids (surprising for this variety) and stony minerality. Lengthy finish remains fresh throughout. So good. Purchased at the winery last summer. — 10 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

So delicious and balanced. Deep cherry and red berry fruit on the nose, with warm gravel and a hint of sweet vanilla. Deep flavors in a lively frame in the mouth. Nice acids and a slightly chalky feel from those Carignane country-boy tannins. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Last bottle of this delicious and relatively inexpensive Priorat. It’s 50% Carignane and 50% Garnacha, but the Carignane really comes through on the nose, which shows deep, dark cherry and a little iodiney, stoney minerality. Big whack of flavor and body upfront. Licorice note making an entrance as the wine airs out. Tannins still and decent acids. Finish is a little short but at this value price point I’m in no position to complain. Solid wine for rustic cool weather dinners. — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

A solid, characterful, rustic, Bordeaux-ish blend purchased at a ridiculously low price. Nose is boisterous with inky graphite, baker’s chocolate, dark cassis, and meaty, feral notes. Peppery and large-framed in the mouth. It’s got a bit of a rustic texture and manner but doesn’t skimp. — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is a very elegant style of Brunello. Nose has sultry macerated dark cherry, terra cotta tile earthiness, some gorgeous sweet spice notes. In the mouth it’s soft, medium-full, and has some nice complexity. Notes of earthy gravel and porcini mushroom to go along with the rich fruit. Tannins are soft but still provide a nice tactile reference point. Acids are soft. Lengthy finish. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Popped, double decanted without waiting. Nose is quite Cote de Beaune-ian. Pure, sappy, just-ripe cherry, significant earthy, stony minerality. In the mouth, it still seems relatively tight in its seventh year. Good intensity, but wound-up and sporting high acidity. Seems like it needs more time in bottle (or maybe another hour or two of air). I’m impressed with the seriousness of this one, though it’s not exactly hedonistic right now. Score could easily go up over time. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

Corked. Aarrgghh. — 11 days ago

with Rebecca

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Tom had this 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

This cuvée, from a small Chianti Classico-based co-op, is always a fantastic value. The 2020 Lamole is no exception. I love wines from this subregion. This has a boisterous nose of slightly sour cherry, pungent wild herbs, and dried loamy gravel. Soft in the mouth, and darker-hued than the nose suggests. The acids are quite soft (it’s a ‘20, so . . . ) and there’s plenty of ripe, soft tannin providing tactile interest. Ideally I’d like a bit more depth and length, but since I got it for under $20 there’s no way I’m complaining. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Super earthy at first, but with air the fruit/earth balance is equilibrating. Loads of irony/clay notes in the nose, with dark plummy fruit. Tannins are integrating but still present. This presents more like a 20th Century right bank wine than what is usual now, with fruit and softness but no overripeness and a nice sense of restraint. — 11 days ago

with Rebecca