Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Misadventures in Wine Chapter 5: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Explorer”

An Explorer dislikes being stuck in a rut or comfort zone. The Explorer may have favourite wines but refuses to be imprisoned by them and constantly looks for new wines, new wine regions and new producers. There is the Random Explorer who has no agenda in wine selection but buys on newness. There is alsoContinue reading “Misadventures in Wine Chapter 5: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Explorer””

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 38: Good-Bye John Lennon

I spent three days in a New York hospital. The bullet had gone clean through my shoulder except for nipping a bit of bone which X rays revealed came to rest a few centimetres from my heart. Those hollow point bullets are nasty things. In considerable pain I headed back to my room at theContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 38: Good-Bye John Lennon”

RKS The Tea Meister: Tea Squared’s Cranberry Purifier

For many years I have been steadfastly avoiding “kiddie teas”. Kiddie teas often have no tea at all as an ingredient but nonetheless they list “tea” as one. They have a melange of flavours primarily all types of fruit. I have backed off from avoiding kiddie teas as a result of a recent experience IContinue reading “RKS The Tea Meister: Tea Squared’s Cranberry Purifier”

Misadventures in Wine Chapter 4: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Higher the Price the Better the Wine”

This could be known as The Filthy Rich Club where money is no object other than a means to glorify “good taste”. A Chilean Carménère at $18.95 could be rated a 93/100 but isn’t that a marker of rotgut…..cheap wines. In no way fitting for a mighty industrialist, tech baron, cardiologist, big time corporate lawyerContinue reading “Misadventures in Wine Chapter 4: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Higher the Price the Better the Wine””

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Eternal Youth? (Nikos Kazantzakis)

“He murmured to himself, ‘It’s really a shame, that youth in human beings doesn’t last a thousand years! Is God perhaps afraid that we’ll take His throne away from Him? Is that why he craftily dismantles us, piece by piece? He pulls out our teeth, screws our knees up stiff, wears out our kidneys, dimsContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Eternal Youth? (Nikos Kazantzakis)”

RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère: Siegel Gran Reserva Carménère

Aromatics: Heavy raspberry markers with black cherry and strawberry in tow. Palate: The tannins are not quite reaching the moderate level. Plenty of stuffing in this wine. Virtually bursting with black cherry but held in a straight jacket for the moment, Put another way the wine may just be on a holding pattern before landingContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère: Siegel Gran Reserva Carménère”

Misadventures in Wine Chapter 3: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Point Slaves”

Today don’t we have so many people and institutions thinking for us? The Point Slaves rely on the wine writer in their purchase decisions. Just walk the aisles of your liquor retailer and see how many 90 plus signs and stickers you see. I wonder how much the winery is charged for appending a 92Continue reading “Misadventures in Wine Chapter 3: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Point Slaves””

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 37: Caught in the Gunfire: John Lennon Down!

I arrived at JFK Airport in New York on a late and foggy November evening, Given the water damage to my unit at the Dakota I made reservations for myself at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park South. I checked in had a double Martini (the best in New York aside from the Yale Club) and hadContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 37: Caught in the Gunfire: John Lennon Down!”

Misadventures in Wine: Chapter 2: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Nationalists”

The Nationalist supports the wineries in the country or territory resided in. The support may be even narrower than that and be limited to provinces/states within a country. For example a Canadian residing in the province of Ontario could decide to drink wines from all provinces of Canada or may focus on wines from Ontario.Continue reading “Misadventures in Wine: Chapter 2: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Nationalists””

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 36: Let’s Plan the Future with My Sweet Campanian Plum That is Eating Three Pizzas at a Shot? John Lennon to the Rescue!

Upon our return to Naples we continued our holiday mode for a few weeks seeing the sites of Naples and eating for three. Ginevra was expanding rapidly. It would be two pizzas for dinner and many scoops of gelato afterwards. As my sweet Campanian plum was expanding rapidly my confusion was as well. After aContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 36: Let’s Plan the Future with My Sweet Campanian Plum That is Eating Three Pizzas at a Shot? John Lennon to the Rescue!”