Tom Casagrande

9.1

I love the nose on this. Tremendous purity of juicy orchard fruit, just a hint of wet straw and clean stony minerality. Crisp and zesty on entry, lots of crisp, juicy fruit and then the zingy acids and stony minerals kick in. I’d like a bit depth in the back half of the palate and length, but this was so cheap, how can I gripe about that? — 20 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Last bottle of this (of 4). It’s turned into a solid Pessac and in my view it’s close to peaking (though admittedly I tend to favor wines on the younger side than many Bordeaux enthusiasts). It’s for that vaguely-vegetal tobacco-y / cigar box note I like, as well as some nice ripe fruit and some metallic minerality on the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate (surprisingly for an ‘18), and quite dry, but with a lot of cling in the finish. Nice tannins (soft) and decent acids. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

Opened and double-decanted to remove sediment. Initially, I’m getting a whiff of something off in the nose. Not sure whether it’s brett or a very slight amount of TCA. Underneath I’m detecting some bright, almost confectionery cherry fruit. Palate offers tart dark cherry initially but then leaves a drying impression. I’m going to hold off scoring this for now and update over the next hour as dinner is cooking. (PS - Not sure why this is labeled as a “red blend” on the app as it has to be 100% Pinot Noir as far as I know.)

UPDATE: over the course of three hours, the corkiness has become more obvious. Down the drain. ☹️ — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is a classic example of the warmth of the 2015 vintage in Tuscany. Earthy nose shows dark, ripe plummy fruit, warm terra cotta roof tiles, gravelly earth. Soft and dark-toned in the mouth. The fruit is still there but tertiary notes abound. Tannins plentiful but very soft. At its peak (to my taste). — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I drink very little Rioja or Toro or Ribera del Duero because I’m just not a big Tempranillo guy, but I popped this one because I’m cooking a Spanish chicken and rice dish tonight. It’s pretty good. Nose is quite earthy, with lots of loamy soil notes. The oak seems under control and is hard to pick out. Some dark tangy berry fruit under the earthiness. On the palate, there’s some nice soft berryish fruit up front, and, surprisingly, a little slatey minerality. Very nice acids. Should go well with the meal, which is almost ready. I’m happy I like a Tempranillo! This seems quite fresh still and should last several more years. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.4

These are night 2 notes. (On night 1 it seemed a little reduced and had a weird almost-acetate-adjacent note.) But on night 2 it was balanced and clean, if not a bit simple. Nice weeknight cheapie. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

A solid inexpensive vintage port. Drinking it too young but whatevs. I love the deep rich fruit. Not complex and still quite tannic. But nice minerality underneath. I’d like to revisit in 10 years. — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Last bottle of the wine that, about 9 or 10 years ago, opened my eyes to the potential in the Columbia Valley and its various AVAs for Rhone varietals. I thought, if this entry-level Syrah was this good . . . . Just double-decanted it so it’s a little closed now on the nose, but the palate is soft and savory. Will update in a few hours and rate at that time.

UPDATE: it’s delicious and fully mature. Most of the fruit has been replaced by savory tertiary notes. Nose shows olive brine and delicate ash-y notes. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.5

Double-decanted about 30 minutes ago. Like the Burg I opened last night, this too is showing a concerning off note in the nose. Doesn’t seem like TCA but not sure what it is. The palate is nice. Tight dark cherry and lots of earthiness. Reserving judgment until I get a fix on the nose as it’s exposed to air.

UPDATE: A couple of hours later, the weird note has blown off, but the wine is not particularly distinguished. So I’m a bit, but not profoundly, disappointed. — 7 days ago

with Rebecca

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is Garagiste’s private label. I’m guessing the producer is Icardi because that’s usually their go-to for Barbaresco and Barolo, but I can’t be sure. In any event, this is terrific wine and at its peak, in my view. Nose is classic with rose petals, beautiful dried cherry, mineral-flecked gravel, and some tertiary old library scents making an appearance. Soft, long, and balanced in the mouth. Really fine. Strangely, zero sediment. — 10 days ago