Tom Casagrande

9.2

Deep and feral. Blood and granite all over the nose, along with cracked black peppercorns and dry aged beef. Pretty large-framed for a Saint Joe on the palate. Savory, iron and granite. Still some tannin to shed. I’d thought this would be further along than it is, but it’s got promises to keep and miles to go before it sleeps. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Welp. Delectable ate my contemporaneous notes. Post hoc memories are that this wine had lots of nice, spicy mineral-tinged fruit and really nice balance. A great value. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I’ve rarely had a Zin as Burgundian-styled as this is. Medium color saturation. Gorgeous nose of oozy ripe red and black berry fruit and a warm terra cotta tiles and sandstone earthiness. Alcohol (only 14.3%) and tannin all in balance. Long finish. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Wowza. Just double-decanted this to accompany osso buco Milanese. Right out of the gate, the nose is singing. Amazing tertiary scents of just-conditioned rich mahogany and deep earthy spice accompany bright mineral/flecked damp earth, and ripe cherry fruit with a berryish overtone. Earthy and linear on the palate. There’s still some fruit, but it’s quite savory and mineral. Very clingy and with bright acids in the long finish. Can’t wait for the braise to be ready to have with this. Superb. — 14 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

It’s far from cheap for a Chalonnaise white but it’s very very good. Little discernible oak influence on the nose, which, with some air, gives off increasingly deep pear and ripe apple fruit, along with deep-toned limestoney notes. Great concentration in the mouth, with weighty fruit and deep minerality spilling into a long finish. Medium-low acids. Whether it’s worth the high price tag is debatable, but you can’t deny that it’s quite enjoyable and interesting.

What I’m internally debating is this: At this price point, would I rather have a well-made village or lieu-dit Meursault, or an elite Montagny? There’s a special terroir that comes through with a well-made village Meursault, or Chassagne, or Puligny (or even a good Saint-Aubin or Auxey). And Montagny—even a maxed-out Montagny like this one—won’t have that. (I guess I answered my own question.) — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Intensely mineral nose, with maybe a hint of bitter herb. Little fruit on offer today at this geology fair. A little green apple fruit hits the palate at first, but quickly transitions to mineral and pleasantly green pithy notes. Terrific acids. Amazingly refreshing. Bone bone dry. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

It’s got spice, lychee, pear, and some nice subtle stony minerality in the nose. On the palate it’s off-dry, but has fairly nice balancing acids (for a Gewurz). This is a Gewurz that avoids cloyingness, which can be an issue for some people, very well. For me, a Gewurz fan, this is outstanding. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Fresh off the UPS truck, I couldn’t resist trying their new “odds & ends” blend of leftover barrels from four of their single vineyard offerings (Bedrock, Old Hill Ranch, Tedeschi, and Belloni), very fairly priced at $25. It’s already delicious. Deeply fruity nose of great purity, with cracked peppercorn notes. There’s a little sweet, toasted baking spice too. Surprisingly soft on entry, it’s rich and mouthfilling, but there’s some tannin and a nice lightly bitterish note that enlivens the finish. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Saturated color. Inky. Nose is medium intensity, showing lots of smoky crushed low-toned stone notes and deep dark ripe berries. Some roasted meat notes. Deep and savory and clingy in the mouth. Still a lot of tannin to shed, but pleasant now anyway. Give this at least 5 years. 9.0 for now from a pleasure standpoint. Likely significantly higher later. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

A delicious, if young, Alsace Pinot Noir. Medium intensity, youthful color. Nose charges out of the batter’s box with musky, fragrant cherries, crushed stone and meadow soil, and a bit of exotic spice. Dry bit with delicious fruit on palate entry, turning lean and emphasizing chalky but soft tannins, good acids, and savory minerals as the palate progresses. A lot of fun to drink now but plainly will get even more interesting over the next few years. — 11 days ago