Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS 2023 Wine: Will Red Tractor 2021 Chardonnay Stall in the Mud?

Red Tractor is a “Creekside Brand” and I reviewed their 2017 Cabernet Franc and it made my best wine list of 2022. Their Cabernet Merlot I tried this year was absolutely dreadful. What will happen with the Red Tractor 2021 Chardonnay from St. David’s Bench in Niagara. Will its wheels get stuck in the mud?Continue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Will Red Tractor 2021 Chardonnay Stall in the Mud?”

RKS 2023 Retro Films: “The Marines That Never Returned” (KOREA)

KOREAN CINEMA’S GOLDEN DECADE: THE 1960s Series Korean Cinema’s Golden Decade The 1960 Series was featured at the Lincoln Center from 1-17 September. The series ran from September 1–17 and is one of the largest retrospectives ever of 1960s Korean Cinema outside of Korea, including many rarely screened films, several presented on 35mm archival prints.Continue reading “RKS 2023 Retro Films: “The Marines That Never Returned” (KOREA)”

RKS 2023 Wine: An Argentinian in the Shadow of Côte Rôtie: Escaping Mendozian Malbecian Tyranny

In the Northern Rhône in France there is a tiny appellation Côte Rôtie where a small amount of Viognier white is added to Syrah to create some magic. In this El Enemigo Syrah-Viognier from Mendoza in Argentina do we have an imitator? Is imitation the best form of flattery? 10% Viognier has been added toContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: An Argentinian in the Shadow of Côte Rôtie: Escaping Mendozian Malbecian Tyranny”

RKS Poetry: “Scraping the Bottom of the Ajvar Jar”

Scraping the Bottom of the Ajvar Jar The beady eyed onelike LBJ can’t end it with a victoryin a last ditched effort turns to the Supreme Leader for armsto further the “sacred war”after the Grand Leader supplies dronesand the world moansWill nobody learn from the Ho Chi Minh Trailand the Wailing Wallhumanity in the bigContinue reading “RKS Poetry: “Scraping the Bottom of the Ajvar Jar””

RKS 2023 Wine: A CS from SA: Eminent Quality at a Reasonable Price!

Some 15 years ago I attended the New York Wine Expo at a bunker called the Jacob Javitz Convention Centre in Manhattan. After a long afternoon in my exit I made a last valiant effort to try a few South African red wines. The majority of them had an earthy-gamey streak to them. South AfricanContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: A CS from SA: Eminent Quality at a Reasonable Price!”

RKS 2023 Film: “Shadow Island”: A Mixture of Mystery, Horror and Swedish Traitors

The Swedish film “Shadow Island” is a tantalizing combination of mystery and horror tinged with a Swedish traitor or two. Let the NATO jets roaring overhead in the beginning of the movie and radio stories about Sweden joining NATO whet your whistle on the espionage front. At the film’s conclusion you may conclude it isContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Shadow Island”: A Mixture of Mystery, Horror and Swedish Traitors”

RKS 2023 Film: The Inevitability of a Return to Mexico From The United States: A Question of Mañana

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) of the United States celebrates Latino/x Heritage Month with the documentary “Bulls and Saints” which will be broadcast on September 18th at 10 p.m. ET/9 Central and will be available to stream until December 17, 2023 at pbs.org. and PBS App. Tacho and Cecilia are from a small Mexican villageContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: The Inevitability of a Return to Mexico From The United States: A Question of Mañana”

RKS 2023 Film: Toronto International Film Festival: “The Tundra Within Me”

Lena (Risten Anine Gaup) in furtherance of her painting moves from Oslo to her Sámpi birthplace with Jonas her young son. She’s painting female reindeer herders in an abstract and political way. Lena is not exactly given a warm welcome returning to her ancestral home. In her own view as a former reindeer herder whoContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: Toronto International Film Festival: “The Tundra Within Me””

RKS Literature: Dangers Facing the Lonely Intellectual (Balzac)

“His shop is a very good place to go to; you can talk to all great men of the day there. There, my dear fellow, a young man can learn more in an hour than by growing pale over books for 10 years. People discuss articles, and concoct subjects, and get to know famous andContinue reading “RKS Literature: Dangers Facing the Lonely Intellectual (Balzac)”