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. — 4 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Relatively deep color. Rich nose of dark and red berries, along with dried cherry and dry plowed gravelly earth. Mouthfilling and soft, it’s straightforward and quite satisfying. Some soft tannin prevents it from feeling too fat. Acids are soft.

Listening to the Grateful Dead (Barton Hall May 1977). RIP Bob Weir. 😢 — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

My notes from a few months ago still seem applicable. Just a flavorful, scented, delicious weeknight dinner wine. — 11 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. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Very nice Gigondas for the new world order (i.e., global warming) that we’re sentenced to live out our lives in. It’s a fatter, friendlier format, but still in balance. The nose is rich and a little mentholated, with deep plumminess, underbrush and wet clay/gravel scents. In the mouth it’s densely fruity, but with lots of crushed stoniness and some chalky tannins for structure. Acids are decent. Not super complex but a satisfying glass of wine. In 375 ml format. — 7 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Very nice Lacrima. Bright purple florals, very nice fruit. A little chalky tannin. So friendly. — 12 days ago

with Angelo

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 — 3 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. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is labeled “C & C Lecareux L’Impermanence Morgon,” but it’s made by Domaine Les Capreoles. Still quite youthful, the nose is a little reticent, giving up teasing whiffs of hard cherry fruit and crushed stone. Vigorous in the mouth. Forceful acids and a bit of tannin accompany the crisp and relatively deep fruit. Finishes a little chalky, with mouthwatering acids. Give this another year or two and it’ll really shine. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

Corked! ☹️ — 11 days ago