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. — 2 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. — 6 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. — 11 days 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. — 2 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! — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

I like this a little better than the ‘21. Nose has classic Pinot Blanc orchard fruit and wet straw scents, along with wet river stone and limestone earthiness. Dry and lean in the mouth, seemingly not quite integrated yet. Zingy, aggressive acids and lots of stony minerals are the dominant palate impression. A moderate bitter component on the finish. I think this will come together in the next 1-2 years, but its angularity makes it nice on a warm summer night on the deck right now. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Extremely truncated petty [sic, “party”] notes: pretty good. — 16 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 1 other

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. — 3 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. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Biodynamic Southern Rhone blend from a favorite producer. Smells, tastes, and feels like a mature CDP. Earthy nose, slight pruney-tinged fruit. Full-framed and still lots of tannin in the mouth, but it’s soft. Acids on the low side. 14.5% alcohol. Nice. — 13 days ago