Tom Casagrande

Wine biz in NYC in 80s. Sucked at sales. Since 1990, a lawyer. But still love wine!

2415 wines • 302 followers • 203 following

Clos de L'ours

Le Chemin Red Blend 2019

9.1

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find traditional Cotes de Provence AOC reds. Is it that American importers aren’t interested, or are Provençal producers making less and less in favor of cash-flow-friendly rose? I don’t know. But this is a nice one. Near equal parts Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. Nose is complex, with spicy dark berry ooze, roasted herbs, iodine, crushed rock. Mouthfilling and with some serious weight, it’s a lot like a good Gigondas or Vacqueyras in style. Very savory- leaning flavors. 14.5% alc. Still some significant tannic presence, but it’s not intrusive. This will actually improve, I think, over the next couple of years. — 9 hours ago

Ray, Aaron and 6 others liked this

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, FYI only, but I found your comment interesting about making Roses vs. AOC reds — one of my brothers is a small west coast importer, who does actually import a few French Roses, and he has been been telling me in the past 2-3 years that sales of French Rose have been drying up, such that he’s bringing in 1/3 to 1/2 of his Roses compared to 4-5 years ago. Maybe any of our other ITB contacts can share their own experiences, but my brother has been told that “Roses just don’t sell” like they used to. Just sharing the single data point, and, of course, I may just be wrong.

Austin Hohnke

@Doug Powers Rosé has experienced a bit of contraction here in New York, but it’s more industry wide than categorical. RTD’s, cannabis, health consciousness, and lack of interest from Gen Z are all contributing factors to the current wine environment. Inflation and tariffs haven’t helped in broadening the consumer base.

As far as Provence rouge, it’s a tough category and not one my clientele has inquired about. Côtes du Rhône and CdP are what the consumer is familiar with and asks for by name. It’s up to the salesman to suggest Bandol, Cassis, Minervois, Corbieres, etc. At the moment there is simply too much wine on the market and the average consumer reaches for familiarity. Drink what you know.

Château Pavillon Figeac

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Tom Casagrande

9.2

This is surprisingly good for a bargain-priced St. Emmie. Nose shows clear, ripe plummy Merlot fruit, some clay-inflected earth, some underbrush, and subtle, pleasant vegetal note. Very nice balance and mouthfeel. Not a bruiser, but more on the elegant side. Fruit, tannin, acids all nicely dancing together. I like this a lot! — 10 days ago

Doug, Pooneet and 13 others liked this

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I have always had a soft spot for St. Emilion, my favorite of all the Bordeaux communes (well, at least taking pricing into account)!!

Domaine Cauvard

Clos de la Maladière Monopole Beaune Chardonnay 2018

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Gorgeous! Such nice acidity propping up the lemon oil and earth flavors. A little like a Meursault and a nice value on the wine list. — 2 days ago

Ted, Doug and 12 others liked this

Wrath

San Saba Vineyard Syrah 2018

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Super heavy bottle. 👎🏻

Color is quite saturated. Nose is NOT shy; kind of shakes it in your face in a very suggestive way. Ash pit earthiness overlaid on almost port-like fruit. In the mouth it’s very soft, mouthfilling, and voluptuous. Fruit is a bit too much on the ripe side for my taste. Not pruney, though, thankfully. I detect a bit of residual sugar, too. Nice length, and the tannin is very soft and buried in the cascade of fruit. With air, some savory components come out to complexify the fruit. Orin Swift fans will like this a lot, but it’s a bit too showy and over-the-top for my taste. — 5 days ago

Ron, Ely and 12 others liked this

Neil Valenzuela

Bummer- Wrath is usually pretty solid for their Pinot.

Angelo Casagrande

“Shakes it in your face in a suggestive way”? And it doesn’t get a 10. I’m not related to you.

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, so the “shaking of the aromatics” forced you into the plastic surgery center to repair whatever befell your nose here — am I getting that right? 🤔🤷🎤

Immel

trocken Biowein Weissburgunder 2021

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Fresh and minerally. Nose has that earthy, wet straw thing I associate with Pinot Blanc. Crushed stones and green apple and slightly underripe orchard fruit. Surprisingly intense in the mouth. Lots of concentrated up-front fruit hits first, with very nice acidity lifting it. It’s simple and satisfying. — 9 days ago

Ted, Ming and 9 others liked this

Massimo Lentsch

Cosentino Etna Rosso DOC Nerello Mascalese 2019

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is the “ San Teodoro” cuvée. 100% Nerello Mascalese. Light, fragrant, balanced. Interesting flavors of bright cherry and mineral. It’s hard to find nice, lighter reds, and I find myself frequently cooking things that call for a lighter red — 12 days ago

Brian, Ron and 10 others liked this

Bott-Geyl

Points Cardinaux Métiss Alsace White Blend 2020

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is a fragrant, fun-to-drink inexpensive white. Nose captures little snippets of several varieties, the wet straw of Pinot Blanc, a little grapey, musky Muscat or perhaps Gewurz, a little petrol from Riesling? I don’t know. I’m guessing. But it’s so nice. Round and fruity, a little tangy, in the mouth. Really nice balance. Basically dry, with a refreshing finish. A winner! — 4 days ago

with Rebecca

Ray, Ming and 19 others liked this

Antonio Vallana e Figlio

Cuvée Bernardo Vallana Spanna Nebbiolo 2018

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Old-school hint of barnyard funk in the nose. Not enough for any concern, and it plays nicely with tangy, zingy macerated cherry and spice. A bit of crushed stone. Rapier-like acids propel the fruit along. Tannins are very soft. (Thanks to my brother @Angelo Casagrande for the gift!) — 6 days ago

Ray, Severn and 14 others liked this

Pinotman /// Andreas

Nice tiles in the background.

Bedrock Wine Co.

Vineyard Under the Mountain Heritage Santa Clara County Red Blend 2021

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Holy smokes this is good! My expectations were modest due to my stereotyping its Santa Clara County provenance, but I stand corrected. This is apparently an old-vine blend featuring about 50% Zin and a mix of Carignane and Mataro (Mourvèdre) to round it out. The purity of the black and red berries on the nose is remarkable. A bit of crushed stony earth. In the mouth, there’s tremendous flavor concentration but with an athletic mouthfeel that balances nice acids and super-soft tannic support. Great length. Color me duly impressed. Shoulda got more. 14.5% alcohol thank you very much. — 8 days ago

Doug, Ted and 17 others liked this

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I am rapidly becoming a huge fan of Bedrock’s wines the 2023s we have tasted (and more to taste at the next pickup party) really show how good the vintage was!!

Joseph Cattin

Pur de Roche Alsace Riesling Sec 2016

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Last bottle I had was corked, but this one is pristine, and it’s very, very good. The nose features a whole spectrum of mineral notes: petrol, a geologist’s knapsack full of different crushed stones. In the mouth, it’s intensely flavorful. Big whack of bitter-tinged apple and pear in the mouth initially, followed by intense liquid minerality and levitated by nice acids. Very nice length. Pur de Roche indeed. — 14 days ago

Pooneet, Bob and 16 others liked this