The Alyan A&A 2017 Carménère from Chile is produced in the Maule Valley, Chile’s largest viticultural area yet one of the most geographically and climatically diverse encompassing the Andes to the east, the sunny plains throughout the central corridor and the rolling coastal hills to the west which makes it possible for both red andContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Alyan A&A 2017 Carménère from Chile”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS 2023 Film: “Montreal Girls”: Dangerous Title but Highly Seductive Film!
With a title of “Montreal Girls” you might surmise this is “A Girl’s Gone Wild” subsidiary. Not the case. As a native of Montreal for 30 years before escaping as a political refugee to Toronto down Highway 401 to a then sterile city of Toronto any film better capture my former city of habitation orContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Montreal Girls”: Dangerous Title but Highly Seductive Film!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Ho Hum Pinot Noir from Ontario’s South Islands
When it is a question of Canadian Pinot Noir my favourites are from British Columbia’s Okanagan. Smooth, elegant, soft and just perfect with salmon. Ontario Pinot Noirs? More of a hit and miss proposition. Pelee Island is always a fun place to visit even if you do not like wine. Pelee Island Winery produces someContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Ho Hum Pinot Noir from Ontario’s South Islands”
RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs Film: “Eat Bitter”: Functional Dysfunctionality and Who is to Blame?
The Central African Republic (CAR) has 76% of its population living below the international poverty line. Its GDP is less than $500 USD per person. In Canada the GDP per person is $52,000 USD. The CAR is more or less in a civil war which has yet to reach its capital of Bangui. Violence, desperateContinue reading “RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs Film: “Eat Bitter”: Functional Dysfunctionality and Who is to Blame?”
RKS 2023 Wine: Better Pinot Noir for Less? Chile? A Darling of the Medical Profession?
I am a wine writer from the other side of the tracks! A retired and impoverished old codger. I even had lunch in a suburban restaurant 36 kilometres from Toronto! There wasn’t an orthodontist in sight! Actually, the food was excellent as was the conversation with a veteran wine writer friend! There are no wineriesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Better Pinot Noir for Less? Chile? A Darling of the Medical Profession?”
RKS 2023 Films: “Midnight at the Paradise”: Monogamy and Sticky Flypaper
I believe Buddhists speak of “auspicious connections”. You have encounters one might believe are chance or random but really are more than that. So, last week I am driving in the Parkdale area of Toronto and drive by “The Paradise” an old theatre converted to an event venue. These days a theatre or even aContinue reading “RKS 2023 Films: “Midnight at the Paradise”: Monogamy and Sticky Flypaper”
RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Seven Winters in Tehran”: Deadly Iranian Misogyny and Theocracy
Reyhaneh Jabbari was born in Tehran on November 6, 1987, as the first child of Shole Pakravan and Fereydoon Jabbari. Together with her two sisters, she grew up in Tehran in a protected, loving, artistic home. She studied computer science and worked part-time as an interior designer in the office of a family friend. SheContinue reading “RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Seven Winters in Tehran”: Deadly Iranian Misogyny and Theocracy”
RKS 2023 Wine: Laura Hartwig Chilean Carménère: Pinot Noir on Steroids?
From the Colchagua Valley in Chile we have a Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère. In 1966 Laura Bisquertt inherited the “Santa Laura Estate” from Osvaldo her father who had planted traditional crops and raised dairy livestock on it. Laura’s husband Alejandro Hartwig bought adjoining plots of land and planting of traditional Bordeaux grapes commenced inContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Laura Hartwig Chilean Carménère: Pinot Noir on Steroids?”
RKS 2023 Wine: The Superhero Wine Writer Humbly and Inadequately Explores a Chilean Carignan
Occasionally you encounter the superhero wine writer proud to be a judge at a wine competition or simply at some wine tasting event. Superhero has just tasted 83 wines and rated each of them maybe in the space of a couple of hours! Amazing! My crappy palate is put to the test on certain pressContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: The Superhero Wine Writer Humbly and Inadequately Explores a Chilean Carignan”
RKS 2023 Wine: A Georgian Wine Tasting at The Russian Gun Club
Most of my wine tastings have been at estates, chateaus, restaurants, ships and all sorts of event venues. The most memorable have been in various quintas in Portugal’s Douro region where I have been treated on occasion like visiting royalty. Perhaps the strangest venue in a Canadian city years ago was a Georgian wine tastingContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: A Georgian Wine Tasting at The Russian Gun Club”
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