Tom Casagrande

8.8

Lots of flavor, but low acids and a bit flabby, like many 18s. Nose shows wet gravel earthiness, dark cherry ooze, a bit of leather. In the mouth it’s ripe and soft, not as vibrant or structured as one usually wants/expects, but doesn’t skimp on flavor. Drink soon. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Decanted 4 hours. Intense nose has unconventional scents of macerated cherry and prune brandy, camphor, almond liqueur, and spice. More traditional-tasting in the mouth. Intense dried cherry and leather, very full-bodied (15% alcohol) and quite long. Acids are a little on the low side, and there is a significant tannic presence, but not so much that it detracts. If this were lower in alcohol and higher in acids, I’d say age it a few more years, but as is, I think this is for near-term drinking. — 16 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Seemed a little tired when first opened, but air time is its friend. After an hour it’s perked up and shows brambly Zinfandel berry fruit and lots of gravelly minerality. Spicy and savory in the mouth. This is not a typical jam-jar Zin. It has some structure. — 23 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

An unabashedly fruity, “drink me!” style of Zin. Tons of blackberry and assorted red berries and little structure. A bit of brambly notes and some crushed rock on the nose as well. Totally gulpable in the mouth. Backyard burger Zin! — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Decanted 4 hours. Nose shows incredibly deep, extracted dark cherry fruit, both dried and fresh, and exotic, low-toned spice note, new leather, and hot gravel. The palate is enveloping with deep fruit and crushed rock. There’s significant tannin hidden within the fruit. Acids are neither low nor high. Long, pure finish. Very classy stuff. Will age nicely several more years. — 16 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Nose comes roaring out of the glass. A bit of the cracked peppercorn and granite-like stoniness of a cooler-climate Syrah, accompanied by herbal and fresh-picked strawberry components. Great punch and presence in the mouth, with crisp red fruits and lots of cracked stones. Zesty acids and a bit of fine, chalky tannin. I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I do, having bought it just out of curiosity due to the rarity of this varietal. Will improve over the next couple of years for sure. Didn’t Wente used to make one of these many moons ago? — 19 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Last bottle of the ‘20, all of which have been superb. Nose shows a range of fruit, ranging from apple to gooseberry to even tropical notes. But none too cloyingly ripe. There’s also a classic, intense gun-flinty minerality that is so perfect. Intense and soft in the mouth, with fruit and minerality in equipoise, and nice but unobtrusive acids propelling a very long and minerally finish. Upper echelon Pouilly-Fume. — 16 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Starting to soften from a few months ago. Loose-boned, big-bones. Not one to age but to drink in the next year or two before the alcohol burns through the fruit. — 17 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Delicious and very Saint-Joseph! Fragrant nose is redolent of crushed granite, savory notes that verge into iodine, and bloody dark little mountain berries. Lean and chiseled in the mouth, with clingy savory flavors and nice acidity. There’s a fair amount of tannin but it’s medium soft and well integrated. Great value, as always with this producer. — 21 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

This is their Brunello clone Sangiovese. It’s really good. I’d love to open this alongside a 10-year old Brunello. Dark cherry fruit, old leather, gravel. Beautiful balance. Tannins there but not intrusive at all. — a month ago