Tom Casagrande

8.9

A nice and interesting change of pace dessert wine. There’s a sweet, warm-fur-of-a-beloved-pet note (or maybe warmed corn syrup drizzled on a partially healed serious wound) 😁 to go with the pineapple and crystallized dried fruit notes. Rich in the mouth, not complex, but not your usual dessert sipper. Nice. — a day ago

with Dan and Angelo

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Garagiste said this was a Beauroy, but there’s no mention of it on the back or front label, or even the cork. Just “premier cru.” I believe this is an alternative “brand/label” for Jean-Marc Brocard. Very good stuff. Nose is nuthin-but-limestone, brothy limestone. Little bit of crisp apple. Soft and minerally in the mouth too. Jurassic geology 101. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Such a nice sipper on a hot day while prepping dinner. Obviously a baby, nose a little reserved, but the palate is redolent of ripe, peach and apple. Crisp acids. Delicious. — 3 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.8

This is a unique one. 80% Pinot Noir 20% Gamay. I wanted something light I could put a light chill on because we’re in another heat wave. The nose has got a bunch of things going on: grapefruit rind, tomato leaf, pungent rocks, and some berry fruit. In the mouth it’s fresh and light, with cleansingly bitterish grapefruit rind notes and tart berries. Nice, buoyant acids, and what tannin there is, is super-fine grained. Finishes with mounting bitterness. Sounds weird but it’s actually what I want on a night like this.

UPDATE: Night 2, the palate is more settled and showing a tad more fruit and a tad less bitter flavors. Upping from 8.7 to 8.8.

By the way, looks like Delectable is back to a 24-48 hours delay in publishing posts. 😠 — 7 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Truncated dinner party notes. Fully mature, rich fruit, some tertiary notes. Just a touch of dried fruit (prune) but not detracting, adds a little complexity. — a day ago

with Dan and Angelo

Tom Casagrande

9.3

375 ml. Gorgeous nose of peach, apricot, lightly honeyed, very bright. On the palate it’s quite intense but so nicely balanced. Almost a little tannic thing in the finish which shows the intensity. I know we’re drinking it young but we’re with my dad and he’s 94, and loves Riesling, so we’re living in the present. And the present here is pretty nice. — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

@Delectable Wine - This is the Cote Granits (not the La Cote). Yup. Nose gives it away. Northern Rhone Syrah. Gorgeous nose of dried Spanish chorizo, crushed granite, black peppercorns, and dark mountain berries. Soft and deeply flavored in the mouth. Clingy flavors have dark berries and savory, dark-toned mineral and cured meat components. Good initial and mid palate intensity. Soft texture, and a decent amount of acidity. Long finish. What a great value this was. Gotta get more. ($25 on WTSO) — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Still drinking young, but coming around. The definition of a chiseled, bone dry Alsace Riesling. Minerally, fresh nose. Citrusy. Intense and minerally in the mouth. Mouth-stinging acids. Long. So good. — a day ago

with Angelo and Dan

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is the Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes. Nose is quite earthy, with loamy and limestone notes combining, some underbrush, with some dark cherry-ish fruit underneath. Nice balance, flavors going a little tertiary, nice acidity for an ‘18. Tannins soft, chalky, but receding. Went very well with my mom’s old Chicken Dijon recipe from the 70s! — 2 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This bargain St-Emmie is a great Monday dinner companion. Fragrant, plummy, earthy nose. Rich and dark-toned flavors, tannins enveloped by the deep fruit. Terrific with my late mom’s version of Steak Diane. — 3 days ago