Tom Casagrande

9.1

Popped and did a quick double decant to separate the sediment. Nose gradually opening to show beautifully pure dark cherry fruit, cedar notes, and wet clay earthiness. In the mouth it’s got good flavor intensity, and the texture is fairly soft and friendly for a ‘19 right-banker, which I’ve generally found to be a little burly so far in their youth. Could benefit from a few more years but definitely enjoyable now. Ridiculous value. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Nose has exuberant gooseberry fruit, a ton of limestoney/clay-like minerality, and a wee bit of both grassiness and a brothiness I usually associate with Chablis to the east. Surprisingly rich and dense in the mouth. Lots of concentrated ripe fruit in a seriously full-bodied package. If I had been served this blind, I’m pretty sure I would not have identified it as a central Loire Sauvignon Blanc. Strikes me more like a ripe, serious Pessac or even a Chablis. Atypical but I like it a lot. 14% alcohol. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

@Delectable Wine - This rose is Beaujolais-Villages AOC. I love this style of rose. Bright, fresh, strawberry and cherry, mineral. Shoulda bought more. Great value. — 12 days ago

with Rebecca, Dan and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is a rather delicate M-a-V. Tangy hard cherry candy fruit needs a little air to come out and play, and it’s augmented with some floaty, nose-tickling rock dust. In the mouth it’s soft and balanced, with cherry fruit and stony minerals buoyed along by crisp acids. There’s a little tannin, but not nearly as much as expected for this village. I’d love a bit more depth, but for a ‘21 this is quite nice. Very food-friendly. — 4 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

Virginia Pinotage! I bought this at the winery and, looking at it in the cellar over the next few months, I wasn’t sure whether I got it because I was having a fun day or the wine was actually good. It’s pretty damn good. Fully mature, it’s still got rich mulberry fruit, and some loamy earth. Very soft in the mouth, with a more savory profile than the nose suggests. Should work well with the chicken cacciatore that’s simmering. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

OK, I didn’t want to like this as much as I do because it’s 15% listed abv, but I do like this a lot. Complex nose has ripe, macerated cherry, dark baking spice, clay tile-like earthiness, a little leather. Soft and full in the mouth, but with nice acids and a nice transparency of flavor. Fine-grained tannins shot through. Clingy flavors turn savory in the second half of the finish. Great pasta-with-red-sauce wine. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Abbreviated notes from the morning after an amazing gathering of family and friends the day after my daughter’s wedding (which was MORE amazing than the wines!).

Pinnacle Giggie. Garrigue, iodine, depth, balance. — 12 days ago

with Dan, Rebecca and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.3

@Delectable Wine, This is the back label of the 2017 Chateau Davell El Dorado County Estate “Gaia” Blend. I’m not sure what varietals are in it. When we talked to the winemaker, he wouldn’t say! It’s supposed to be his top barrels of what they grow (biodynamically). Nose is soft and inviting, with sweet kirsch scents, a smoky note, a little baking spice and sun-warmed rocks. On the mouth it’s intensely flavored, very much like a mature Chateauneuf, with great balance however, and an intensely saline/salty minerality in the back half of the palate. Really good wine. Only 13.8% alcohol. The front label is a painting, very striking, with no words (that’s why I had to take a photo of the back label, so Delectable at least had a chance of identifying it, which it failed to do anyway 😕). — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Apparently made by Reynvaan, this is fully mature and packed with character. Nose has loads of roasted asparagus and root vegetable notes, smoky embers, roast pork, rich dark red berries. Soft and carrying a deep saline and iodiney minerality in the mouth, the flavors are low toned and savory, tannins almost fully resolved. Drink now and enjoy! — 10 days ago

Tom Casagrande

10

Abbreviated notes from the morning after an amazing gathering of family and friends the day after my daughter’s wedding (which was MORE amazing than the wines!).

Brought to me by a dear friend months ago in anticipation of this event so it could rest in the cellar and be ready. Cork removal with the Durand took awhile but was successful. The peak of an evening of peaks in a weekend of peaks. Fully mature. Still some fruit, all sorts of tertiary complexity. Ridiculous. Made the year I was in 1st grade. Apotheosis of Port. — 12 days ago

with Dan, Rebecca and 1 other