3/3/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Update to my 90 score…I bought 10 more bottles at Costco for $12 each, quite a bargain. The last couple bottles were not as good, but drinkable. I then remembered the wildfires in that area in 2020 and this is smoke taint. I’m not sure if they’re even in biz anymore, but at $12, it’s better than the other wines at that price point.

2/8/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

If you like fruit forward Pinots, this is a steal at Costco for under $13! Beauty, and one of the best from Acacia. Drank in Reidel Pinot glass

2/4/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Opened 45 min before bbq steak meal. Was very fruit forward and great, but not very cab like for first glass. After a while, it became traditional cab and could be a 94 pt. If you drink now, I might open a couple hours before. Reidel cab glass.

1/25/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Going to wait before drinking the other bottle I have. Had this in Reidel Syrah glass and think it will improve a bit with more time. Opened one hour before meal and it was very good after another hour. A glass left over (in bottle) I had a couple days later and nice, but not as good.

1/15/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Fabulous wine. A neighbor just gave it to us for Xmas and I don’t know that they bought it. I think it was a re-gift from the past. Drank in Reidel Pinot glasses and we loved it. Best Oregon Pinot we’ve had and I need to find more of this year. Fruit forward, like many CA ones.

1/12/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I agree with BHWine, on the decline, and not very interesting for its price point. Tried in Reidel cab glass and regular red wine glass.

1/1/2024 - Les Kangas wrote:

Opened one hour before and then tried in two different glasses. The Reidel Chianti/zin glass being a bit better. Not worth the price or wait.

12/26/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Perfecto Syrah, reminds me of Saxum. Drinking well now. I just poured leftover from two days ago and still very good. Reidel Vinum Syrah glass.

12/26/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Drinking perfect right now, wish I had more. Reidel Bordeaux glass

12/26/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Best white wine I’ve had in years. Did not chill too much and when I did, it wasn’t as good, losing its complexity. Reidel Vinum chard glass

12/24/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Last bottle of seven or so. I think it was better last year, but still a great glass of wine. Reidel Syrah glasses. I wouldn’t hold too much longer.

12/14/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I wish I had bought more. This wine was very good after an hour air, but I put a cork in it, after drinking 1/2 bottle, and then it sat for a few days under the sink. The way I usually treat an inexpensive wine. It was fabulous after all the aeration. Reidel Bordeaux/cab glass. Better than many known wineries in the area that I have spent much more money on over the years.

12/9/2023 - Les Kangas Does not like this wine:

Worst purchase I have made in years. I tried different glasses and more air and ended up mixing with box wine. Reinforced my opinion of Sonoma Cabs.

11/5/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Had this in March and stay with same rating. It was beautiful after about two hours air. Reidel Bordeaux glass. I was tempted to give this a 92.

10/22/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I rated this wine a few months ago and stick with my 91 assessment. Gnocchi meal and drank in Reidel Brunello glass. I don’t think it will improve anymore in bottle. I would say drink up, but I’m not a Brunello expert. I did not decant or air after last bottle experience. My second glass of this bottle was not as good as first.

10/21/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Fabulous wine. Growing up in CA, I prefer fruit forward Pinots and this was the best OR one we have had. Reidel Pinot glasses. Wish I had more bottles. Was even better a couple days later (air sucked out of bottle first night).

10/9/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Great wine. I rated this in June and even better with even more air. Like last time, I aired before dinner and it was closed. I sucked the air out and refrigerated, intending to have a few days later. I went out of state and returned a week later and found my wife had tried it and didn’t suck the air out. So, it’s been about two weeks and got a fair amount of in the bottle air and it was fabulous. Drank in Reidel cab/Bordeaux glass. Wish I had more, but not sure what to advise you about airing/decanting. Very little sediment, but at this stage. Needs significant air.

9/20/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

What beautiful wine. Ready now.

9/5/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

On November 2020, we last had a bottle and we ranked 95. Last night, we had company and I opened a magnum at 2:30 and decanted most of it and about 3:30 poured a small amount for friends. It was good, but not 95. I bbq’d dinner and about 4:30 or later we drank the rest of decanter over an hour or so. Not all we’re drinking, but everyone had that first taste when they saw what it was. It started opening after at least two hours. I read peoples note and decided to open later than I thought and that was a mistake. It was fabulous at about 3 hours after decanting, but don’t know if it would have been a 95, as it was gone before it really opened.

8/21/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine, opened 1/2 hour before meal and drank in Reidel Syrah/Barbera glass. Lost some vibrancy after 1.5 hours

7/30/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Had a bottle in May and opened 1/2 hour before drinking. This time, I opened at meal and poured glass through aerator and put cork back in bottle. That was the trick. It was better than last bottle. Reidel Syrah glass.

7/22/2023 - Les Kangas wrote:

Last tried this in Nov 2022 and my note said to give it an hour air. That was a mistake, so now I’m thinking bottle inconsistency. This bottle was drinkable, but I can get that off the shelf now and not wait a couple years to drink. I suggest not holding this longer.

7/5/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Decanted 1.5 hrs before consuming in Reidel Syrah glass. Fabulous wine with tritip steak. I liked much better than the 2006 Flor de Pingus I had a few months ago.

6/29/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I think most of the posts listed here are for a sister wine, but who knows. My post is about the regular Toscana Mongrana IGT, I don’t see any mention of Maremma on the label. (IGT is not on the label, but spelled out in Italian below wine name). I was not impressed at first consumption and sucked the air out and refrigerated it for another day. On second opening, it was a bit better and the last glass was absolutely great. I think it just needs a lot of air to be explored on my next bottle I have in cellar.

5/21/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Followed guidance of opening before meal was ready and I have to say it was good, but not great. Had with homemade lasagna in Reidel Brunello glass. Sucked the air out of remained in bottle and put in fridge for a few days and finished last night; not much better. Couple more bottles in cellar and look forward to them and see if they improve

5/21/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

This is as good as it gets. Last bottle of six I had and drank the others prematurely in retrospect. Opened and decanted one hour before meal and one hour later it was perfection. Riedel Bordeaux glass.

5/2/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Opened 1/2 hour before meal and it was fabulous by dinner time, but as it aired, it settled into something less expensive. I don’t think it should be cellared much longer, maybe a couple years. Reidel Syrah glass with turkey meatloaf.

3/18/2023 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Opened 1.5 hrs before our Cornish hen meal and it was very good. Began losing it after 3.5 hrs, so if there are four of you, I’d stick with 1.5 hrs. Reidel cab/Bordeaux glass.

1/21/2023 - Les Kangas wrote:

Not much there and Reidel glass didn’t help. I don’t think it will get better with age.

1/16/2023 - Les Kangas Does not like this wine:

Couldn’t drink until I ran through airator and then it still sucked. A couple days later, it was consumable, but like a cheap zin and slightly sweet, no depth. Don’t buy.

11/26/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

This didn’t open up for an hour or longer. Reidel Syrah/Rhône glass. I have two more bottles and will open an hour before drinking. I think this could be a higher score than 90.

11/11/2022 - Les Kangas Does not like this wine:

I used to live in the Paso area and looked forward to their higher end wine. It was a big disappointment. I had two bottles and the first one we drank a few months ago. It was sweet and then not too good. This time I aired for an hour, thinking the sweetness would air out. I ended up blending it with box wine to make it more cab tasting. Too much money for this.

9/7/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I opened 1/2 hour before tasting and it was about an 89 or 90 when I did taste. Within ten minutes, it wasn’t good and got worse. Do not air and take the air out with a sucker type device. Reidel Bordeaux/Cab glass.

9/6/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Took an hour to open up and was excellent, way better than 2018. Reidel zin glasses

9/4/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Opened up the day after first consumption wish I bought more, one left

8/21/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I shouldn’t have decanted an hour b4 meal. It tasted great, but I left 1/3 of it in the bottle and put a cork in it. After we finished the decanted portion, I poured the remainder in our glasses and it was much better. Our last bottle, but I suggest opening it an hour before and tasting it. Reidel Syrah glasses

7/23/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

It was much better a couple years ago. Starting to fade. Reidel Syrah glasses.
Adding two days later: I rated 92 and now going with 93. Two days in refrigerated bottle with air taken out and it was better, which makes me think I didn’t air long enough before. Maybe do a couple hours or aerate

7/22/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I wouldn’t buy again at this price, but it was good in Reidel Syrah glasses

7/11/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Waited too long for this one. Do not air, or very short. Had a bottle with July 4 bbq and opened too long before drinking. Tonight, opened with meal and consumed over a couple hours. Reidel Grenache/Syrah glasses. Great wine and should have had 1-2 years ago, but still great.

6/14/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Magnificent wine. Opened 1/2 hour before meal and then poured one glass in Reidel Pinot glass and the other in Reidel Oregon Pinot glass. The regular Pinot glass was better for about 1/2 hour and then the OR (new world) glass was distinctly better. At 1.5 hours the wine was a solid 94. Had with bbq Copper River Salmon.

6/11/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Reidel CA Pinot glasses, bbq salmon. Great match

5/29/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Well, some said a short air and we read a 4 hour decant was too much…I decided to decant 3/4 bottle, 45 min before Cornish game hens with rice. I poured two glasses and then poured the remaining wine into decanter about 30 min later. The wine really opened up an hour later. I would have decanted 1.5 hours before drinking, bearing in mind how many are consuming. Great wine. Reidel Bordeaux/ cab glasses.

5/22/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Looks like several of us think it’s a 93. Reidel cab glass with tritip. Excellent now. Opened one hour before consuming and it was best one hour after pouring first glass.

5/19/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Wish I had more, Reidel stemware

4/23/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Wish I had bought more. Wasn’t particularly interesting on opening, but was very good. Reidel Pinot glass. Took the air out of the remainder in bottle and was in the fridge for at least a week. Viola! Once it came back to room temp, was extremely good.

4/8/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Better than in 2020. Reidel Syrah glasses. Had with Costco thick lamb chops and basalmic reduction.

4/2/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

Not quite as good as previous years, but I’ll still buy for an inexpensive zin. It tastes completely different in varying glasses and I found it better day two. In other words, let it open up.
One week later, it was pretty good, needed a lot of air to hit its stride. Was stored in fridge with air taken out, but it evolved a bit. I changed my rating up one point.

3/26/2022 - Les Kangas wrote:

Came close to being very good, but never really did. After about an hour, was a 90, but then diminished rapidly. Reidel Pinot glass.

2/14/2022 - Les Kangas Likes this wine:

I think it has past its prime, but still good. Drank in Reidel Cab/Malbec glass with lamb with basaltic reduction. It opened nicely after about an hour and in two it was losing it.

1/2/2022 - Les Kangas wrote:

From Parker:
Rating
(88 - 90)
Drink Date
2021 - 2027
Reviewed by
Joe Czerwinski
Issue Date
30th Oct 2020
Source
Issue 251 End of October 2020, The Wine Advocate
The promising 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape showcases scents of stone fruit and black cherries, plus hints of dark chocolate and licorice. It's full-bodied, supple and easy to drink despite still undergoing elevage, with silky tannins on the finish.

This large cooperative cellar has been steadily progressing over the past decade, and these present and forthcoming offerings from Châteauneuf du Pape rank among their best wines to date.