Tom Casagrande

9.2

Got this for a song several years ago, and it’s delicious right now. Classic aged Neb nose with leather, old books, cherries macerated in chokecherry brandy. Tannins nearly fully resolved. Nice balance. Generous, deep fruit in the mouth. Not the most complex but really enjoyable. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

60% Grenache 40% Syrah. Deliciously fruity and deep. Perfect with Chinese take-out. Great purity of ripe berry fruit. A little spice and just a little crushed rock. If I tasted this blind I might think it’s one of those Bedrock or Ridge Contra Costa old vine blends. Decent acids, a bit of chalky tannin. Nice flavor intensity and length. Terrific value.

Interestingly, the importer label, which was stuck on top of part of the producer’s label, said 14.5%, but I peeled it off and saw the the producer’s label said 14%

@Delectable Wine why are none of my friends da seeing my posts??? — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Hard cherry confectionery fruit on the nose, with some dried leather and a whiff of almond extract. Dry and fresh in the mouth. Fruit hits initially, then gets quite dry, with bright acids and a pronounced bitterish note in the finish. Frisky enough for a pasta dinner on the deck on a warm night, at cellar temp. — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Second bottle of this. First one had ullage due to a leaky, moldy cork, and was spoiled. This is pristine. The somewhat reticent nose shows the dark, pure cherry side of Garnacha, with a little raspberry. Some nose tingling crushed rock dust. A little tight and coiled on the palate for a Garnacha, but certainly drinkable now. Stony minerals lead and dry dark cherry fruit augment. Some noticeable but fine groaned tannin and crisp acids (for this varietal anyway). Should be great with Arroz con Pollo y Chorizo. 9.2 for now. Maybe a bit higher in a few years. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Channeling @Doug Powers and popped an aged Bojo. It’s gone tertiary for the most part, but the fruit is hanging in there a bit. Earthy, concentrated palate. A bit of an old leathery note creeping in. Nice experiment for me . . . getting out of my comfort zone. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Post dinner notes. Loved how fragrant this was, bright appley fruit and loads of crushed stone dust. Bone dry. Lacked a little concentration and length on the palate. — 11 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

What a gorgeous Riesling. Nose has citrus peel, apple, crushed rock. The palate is bright and crisp, loads of zingy acidity, but with ample fruit, it doesn’t seem too severe or lean. What excellent balance. Thanks to my brother Angelo for giving me this one!

@Delectable Wine why are none of my friends seeing my posts?? — 5 days ago

with Angelo

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Along with Monte Rosso, one of my two favorite Zin sites in California. It’s got that trademark cracked black peppercorn earthiness, a little Mourvèdre like tree bark, and super bright black cherry fruit. Interesting port-like and resiny notes too. Intense and linear in the mouth, with surprisingly crisp and zingy acids. Tastes way more youthful than its 9 years. Such flavor density and intensity. Remarkable length of finish. Unique for sure. Two thumbs up from my son in law. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Loving the nose right out of the gate, even if it’s a bit too chilled. The purest chalky, oyster-shelly limestone, so bright, with crisp citrus-tinged green-appley fruit. Minerally and a bit leaner on the plate than I expected from a ‘20. Very focused. Finish is like sucking on stones. Teensy bitter note in the finish (not a negative). Right now a 9.2. Let’s see what it does with air and losing a little chill — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.7

Post dinner notes. Spatlese style. A bit simple and fruit-centric. Lowish acids and not much minerality. — 11 days ago