Tom Casagrande

8.7

A lot of character in a rustic format. Tons of inky graphite on the nose, with roasted pork and dark berry skins. Rich but tannic in the mouth. Lots of dark, savory flavors. The tannin isn’t exactly soft, but it’s not out of whack either. Without any bright berry fruit concentration in the mid-palate and with lowish acids, I’d venture that this will never come fully into an elegant balance. So I’d drink this up in the shorter term for its rustic bullishness. — 11 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

This is the 2021 Ziegler (Cave de Beblenheim) Mambourg Gewurztraminer Grand Cru. The “Ziegler” brand is one of the brand names used by this well-regarded co-op. I love the balance on this wine. This nose is classic Gewurz, but in a restrained fashion. Lychee, pear, deep floral notes, river stones. Off-dry on the palate, it’s got nice fruit initially, accompanied by some nice stony minerality. A nice bitter note enlivens the finish. Decent acids for a Gewurz! Superb value (I got it for $22 from WTSO) — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

@Delectable Wine This is the 2023 Havens Napa Valley Zinfandel. Supposedly from mature (40 yr old) vines, it’s a great value in a soft, interesting and balanced (only 14.5% alc) Zin. Nose has ripe, oozy blackberry fruit, some of that nice Napa gravelly earthiness, and a mocha note. Big whack of soft, sultry fruit on the opening palate, with everything in nice proportion. Very soft texture. This is a Zin for drinking now, not ageing.

(Not sure why @Delectable Wine gave it a name with a random string of numerals and letters, but whatevs.) — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

Corked. Ugh. Down the drain. — 11 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Nose is a bit shy out of the gate, but shows a bit of ripe cassis and a slight herbal note. On the palate it’s nicely concentrated, with dark berry/cassis fruit and a subtle garrigue-like earthiness. A fair amount of tannin is present, but it’s soft and doesn’t intrude. Very nice balance. Reminds me a bit of my memory of the 1981 version of Chateau Vignelaure I used to sell back in the day. It’s mostly some old vine Cabernet, with a bit of Syrah and Cinsault. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Yet another winning Marsannay from Domaine Bart. Superb nose shows a deep sousbois earthiness, a little smoky sandalwood, ripe oozing cherry, some crushed stone, and a dusting of spice. On the palate, it’s soft, nicely concentrated, and has a low-toned flavor profile of dark, pulpy cherry and dark savory notes. Tannins in the background but present enough to provide structural support. Pretty decent acids. Drinking really well now, this will easily handle a few more years. Delicious. — 7 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Really well done in a lighter-styled red burg. Rather delicate and pure cherry scents, not too tart, not too oozy, accompanied by damp gravelly earth scents. In the mouth it’s very well balanced, fairly soft for such a young wine. Loads of high-toned crushed rock minerality in the savory but bright palate. The cherries are there but hanging back. Nice acidity! This is not for long cellaring but there’s no rush. A very nice roast chicken wine! (PS-one of the things I like about this domaine is that they put a lot of info about the wine on the side label, unusual for Burgundy producers.) — 13 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

@Delectable Wine - This is the 2021 Dominique & Romain Collet Chablis Premier Cru Montee de Tonnerre. The nose combines classic Chablis scents of lemon-drenched dried oyster shells and limestone, with perhaps just a tad too much clovey new oak. On the palate, the initial attack is great, with zingy acidity and lemony fruit. The mid-palate is a little disappointing for lack of concentration, though the flavors are quite nice. Finishes a tad short for a wine with this pedigree (i.e., good producer and great climat). I like it a lot but am a prisoner to my higher expectations. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Fresh, tingly nose. Lots of bright fruit and a subtle almond note on the palate and a nice bitterish note on the finish — 11 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Light gold color. Love the nose. A little toast/brown butter, wet straw, appley fruit, a little crushed stone. Straight down the middle on the palate. Good fruit intensity initially, then a little wood, with that limestoney/clay earthiness taking control in the back half of the finish, which is fairly long for a village wine. Decent (medium-low) acidity. Not for long ageing but really nice and a good value for a Cote de Beaune village white. — 13 days ago