Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Wine 2023: Carménère From Terra Pura in Chile

Aromatics: Raspberry jam, strawberry, blueberry and a hint of dark chocolate. Palate: The tannins are light and the acids are behaving themselves. Blackberry, raspberry, black cherry with a medium brackish finish. Personality: I am a good Carménère and proud of it. I am a bit rough on the edges which just might suit your palateContinue reading “RKS Wine 2023: Carménère From Terra Pura in Chile”

RKS Wine 2023: What is the Essence of Wine?

“It’s life, in the last analysis, is what sets wine apart. There is nothing else we buy to eat or drink that brings us the identity of a place and time in the same way, that memorizes and recalls (if we listen) all the circumstances that make it what it is. You can, of course,Continue reading “RKS Wine 2023: What is the Essence of Wine?”

RKS 2023 Wine: Quinta do Espírito Santo from Lisbon

You may know Lisbon as a wonderful tourist destination although unfortunately of late it is overrun by tourists. It is also a Portuguese wine appellation. The Quinta do Espírito Santo label has that annoying characteristic of not describing the grapes used in the blend instead stating it is made from “very ripe grapes of typicalContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Quinta do Espírito Santo from Lisbon”

RKS 2023 Film: “Metronom”: Sex, Cognac, Rock and Roll and Romanian Communism

Ana (Mara Bugarin), a senior high school student in 1972 Bucharest, wants to visit her buddy Roxana (Mara Vicol) and a group of friends to listen to music and chat. Mother does not want Ana to go as she has to study for university entrance exams. But being somewhat of a typical teenager Ana defiesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Metronom”: Sex, Cognac, Rock and Roll and Romanian Communism”

RKS 2023 Wine: Errazuriz Max VIII from Chile

Sorry can’t help thinking this wine sounds like some motor oil. Hopefully it tastes better than Saudi juice. It comes from 8 different vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile which has been carved out by the abundant rainwater that flows down from Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain range in the western hemisphere. Red varietiesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Errazuriz Max VIII from Chile”

” The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous: ” Chapter 48: Rot in Hell Cyclops! May You Be with the Angels Ginevra

OK so I had our Bombay Blues Whisky travelling road show at the J.W. Marriot Bucharest Grand Hotel’s “Voice of America” grand suite. The Romanians tanked up on Bombay Blues Whisky. In fact twenty bottles of it for 53 people. They scoffed down pounds of Bombay Fried Okra probably not noticing the inferior Albanian okraContinue reading “” The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous: ” Chapter 48: Rot in Hell Cyclops! May You Be with the Angels Ginevra”

RKS 2023 Film: “Children of the Mist”: Weird, Amusing or Just Plain Disgusting

“Children of the Mist” is a documentary exploring the kidnapping of young girls within the Hmong ethnic group in the isolated mountainous regions of northern Vietnam where the mist often drifts in. A component of the Hmong culture is the kidnapping of underage girls for the purposes of marriage as young as thirteen years ofContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Children of the Mist”: Weird, Amusing or Just Plain Disgusting”

RKS 2023 Wine: One of Chile’s Great Chardonnays?

The Ventisquero Tara Atacama White Wine 1 2020 is only available in 10 Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores and considering the price of $54.95 it is no wonder! The label does not specifically label the wine as a Chardonnay instead stating: “Base Wine: Chardonnay”. Third party websites confirm it is 100% Chardonnay. My AntiContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: One of Chile’s Great Chardonnays?”

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 47: Surrounded by Gypsies at Three A.M. and My Eye Spies an Old Flame and a Dacian Beauty

I had two days before my little show in Bucharest trying to introduce Romanian restaurants and liquor distributors to India’s finest whisky “Bombay Blues”. After an early dinner at the Westin’s “Vlad the Impaler’s” bistro style restaurant I decided to take an evening stroll to Herastrau Park a huge park on a lake. I discoveredContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 47: Surrounded by Gypsies at Three A.M. and My Eye Spies an Old Flame and a Dacian Beauty”

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned Maligned But Marvellous”:Chapter 46: Touchdown in Romania Clouded with Poop Gas: An Angry Gun Barrell Never Sleeps

I left India via New Delhi on TAROM Airlines to Bucharest. They call that flight the “Delhi Belly” as so many passengers have the trots from Indian food the airplane cabin reeks of poop! Part of the “plan” had me darkening my skin with a couple of weeks in the Bombay sun to bleach theContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned Maligned But Marvellous”:Chapter 46: Touchdown in Romania Clouded with Poop Gas: An Angry Gun Barrell Never Sleeps”