Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is the Andis Wines Friedlander Block Old Vine Zin from the Shenandoah Valley AVA in Amador County. Picked it up on our trip there last August. It’s a big boi. Intense brambly fruit on the nose. A bit of oak. Rich but balanced in the mouth. Packing plenty of finely-grained tannins and de ent acids. Only 14.2%. Really nice. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Very light color, but so spot-on in Sangiovese aromas and taste. Delicious. Purchased at the winery in Aug. 2024. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Truncated party notes: very nice Sylvaner. Lots of nice herbal notes, not a lot of fruit, very nice balance. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

8.9

I like this a little better than the ‘21. Nose has classic Pinot Blanc orchard fruit and wet straw scents, along with wet river stone and limestone earthiness. Dry and lean in the mouth, seemingly not quite integrated yet. Zingy, aggressive acids and lots of stony minerals are the dominant palate impression. A moderate bitter component on the finish. I think this will come together in the next 1-2 years, but its angularity makes it nice on a warm summer night on the deck right now. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Extremely truncated petty [sic, “party”] notes: pretty good. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.3

More truncated salsiccia-making notes. Absolutely delicious. Fruit, characteristic herbal notes, mineral. One of the best Sylvaners I’ve had in a quite a while. — 7 days ago

with Douglas, Dan and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Biodynamic Southern Rhone blend from a favorite producer. Smells, tastes, and feels like a mature CDP. Earthy nose, slight pruney-tinged fruit. Full-framed and still lots of tannin in the mouth, but it’s soft. Acids on the low side. 14.5% alcohol. Nice. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Four-seam fastball down the middle of the plate. Very emblematic. — 7 days ago

with Dan, Douglas and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

8.9

This is NOT the Auslese. It’s bone dry. Intensely minerally with almost a feral, animal note in the nose. Unusual for a white. Fairly intense and lively on the palate. Very interesting — 7 days ago

with Douglas, Dan and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Salsiccia-weekend day two truncated notes: lovely earthy nose, wet gravel, oatmeal, lemony fruit, tight, deep and minerally. Nice balance and length. Young — 7 days ago

with Angelo and Dan