Tom Casagrande

This is the “Herivault Silex d’ Ordeuilles Vouvray. Yet another non-dessert Chenin I’m ambivalent about. There’s a weird (to me) funk to the nose that, in alternating sniffs, vacillates between lightly corked and something vaguely biologic. There’s classic Chenin bruised orchard fruit underneath. Off-dry. You’d think after 40+ years of being “meh” on non-dessert Chenins, I’d actually learn not to occasionally buy them. B.F. Skinner is shaking his head. Because on every other sniff I think it’s corked, I won’t give it a rating. — 21 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Some old vine southern hemisphere Carignane tonight. Dense color. Still youthful looking. Boisterous nose of dark cherry and pungent blueberry. A nice yeasty note too, along with a smoky stony note. Soft and rich in the mouth. Lots of flavor density. I didn’t notice the ABV when I bought it in the sale bin, but it’s 15.5%!! Yikes! But I’m not getting much heat at all, weirdly. Probably not the best choice on a humid warm evening, but I’m enjoying it. — 7 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Fragrant with crisp dark cherry and intense iodiney minerality. Intense attack, with crisp zingy cherry and loads of acids. Puckery almost. Needs food. — 11 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Not quite up to the last bottle I had of this but still very good. On the nose, lots of spicy dark berry fruit with a very slight raisined note and the barest pinch of VA. Fruity, fairly deep, soft and nicely balanced in the mouth. Tannins completely resolved. Drink up and enjoy this 100 yr vines beauty. (I love that it’s “only” 14.5% ) — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

This is the Saint-Veran. Love the nose. Stanky Maconnais wet limestone / clay minerality. Ripe apple and pear fruit. Very soft in the mouth, with nice ripeness and the minerality carrying through, providing some freshness despite the low acidity. Medium concentration, but that’s fine for this deck sipper. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Truncated dinner notes. Lots of nice plummy fruit on the nose. Balanced and deep, still a little young, tannins a little angular. But fun now. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.6

Got this for cooking, and it’s pretty drinkable. Fragrant, floral, meadowy nose has some nice orchard fruit. Straightforward and fruity and fresh. Short, clean finish with a little minerality. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Haven’t had a Brunello from the ‘20 vintage yet so wanted to start setting a base point. This is already drinking well. Deep and low-toned nose has bass notes of leather, gravel, iron, and dark cherry. Rich and round in the mouth. Lots of deeptoned fruit and a lot of iron-ey minerality. There’s a ton of mouthcoating tannin but it’s very friendly tannin, enveloped as it is in rich flavors. Acids are on the low side. This likely won’t be a long ager, but I’m looking forward to pairing it with the braccioles in Sunday gravy that’s simmering away. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Truncated dinner party notes. Very much like “young Burgundy” in style. Nose and flavors a little muted but spot-on. Nice balance but need a few years to unfurl. Needs a few years. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Once Again, I can’t wait and open a Once & Future Zin too early! But this is remarkable even though it’s a baby. Deeply earthy nose has loads of rocky, warm gravelly notes, along with tight but profound pure blackberry fruit. Intense but contained in the mouth. Surprising acidity accompanies tight, deep fruit and mineral notes. Tannins there but very fine grained and buried in the rich flavors. Lengthy finish. Only quibble is a little peppery heat ((15.2% alcohol) pooks through in the finish. — 10 days ago