“Mary an actress. Dreadful pity. I’ve got to do something about it. I’m to blame, may have even put the idea into her dark head. If she goes to fat they’ll fire her. I believe she’ll screw her way to stardom. Pole by pole. Like others do in marriage. And some to poverty, fewer to riches, less for love and of course there are those who do it for a dirty old thrill. Thank God there are still some who give it up for life.”
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
Cabernet Franc is a very successful grape in Ontario, perhaps its strongest red grape. Lemberger is somewhat of an unknown. I have yet to see Lemberger wine grown and sold as wine in Ontario. But there is plenty of it in the Finger Lakes.
Hosmer has decided to blend Cabernet Franc with Lemberger. Fifty percent of each. What is the result?
I am surprised by the paleness of the wine thinking that the Cabernet Franc would “redden up” the Lemberger.
Aroma: Lots of smoke much like the Hosmer Lemberger. But there is more Bing cherry influence. Expect to encounter some milk chocolate, cactus pear and raspberry. Light on its feet.
Palate: Given its lightness in aromatics it has some broad-based tannins bordering on moderate. Cherry and raspberry with a light peppery finish.
Personality: I am proud mixie. My somewhat Lemberger soul has been beefed up with a dose of Cabernet Franc but my soul remains anchored in Lemberger. You Canadians out there might want to plant a bit more Lemberger. Sum me up as gentle please.
Food Match: Chilled with a Puglian potato salad. Lake Erie yellow perch tomato based chowder.
Cellarbility: With such a happy lighthearted quality wine drink this summer and fall.
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 89/100.
(Hosmer 2021 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger, Finger Lakes/Cayuga Lake, Hosmer Winery, Ovid, New York, 12%, 750 mL).
“And these doctors too. Once you let them get in these white coats and hold you by the wrist they want to tap you on the chest. Then they want to see in the mouth. Later they put you on the table and go to the cabinet for the knife. They say they just want a peek inside.”
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
“Last Summer” makes you want to cringe and shout, “Stop you fools!”
We are introduced to Anne (Léa Drucker) as a lawyer counselling a minor client about the non-consensual sex she has suffered. Tell the truth she advises. The judge is well aware of the games defence counsel plays Anne says. Anne represents minors.
Anne is married to Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) a successful but highly stressed-out corporate accountant. They have adopted twins and live a charmed upper middle-class lifestyle in suburbia.
The charm rapidly deteriorates when Pierre’s teenage son from a previous marriage, Theo (Samuel Kircher), arrives in the happy home. Theo is in trouble, yet again, for threatening one of his teachers.
Theo is rude, slovenly, manipulative, ungrateful, self absorbed, sullen and a thief. He seems topless most of the time. While in the midst of lovemaking with Pierre, Anne muses at 14 she had an obsession with a 33-year-old friend of her mother which both fascinated and disgusted her.
Matters progress rather quickly and Anne and Theo have a steamy relationship. It is winceable watching their walk into the quicksand of lust. Cover up, lying, hypocrisy and unbridled lust lead to riskier and more flagrant behaviour. I suppose we should take Anne’s comment she despises “normophiles” seriously as her behaviour is far from normal. As far as technicalities go Theo is a minor but obviously he is enjoying himself. His immaturity is evident by his total lack of discretion.
Pierre discovers the shenanigans and the shit hits the fan and issues of credibility and morality become weapons and despite convenience winning over justice sometimes lust is unstoppable.
Anne knows how to play games just like the defence counsel she criticizes.
Based on the Danish film “Queen of Hearts”.
Directed by Catherine Breillat.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLowz2jWzL0 .
Currently playing in theatre in Canada but elsewhere in the world available on Video/digitally.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 88/100.
“I don’t want to be caught by anybody. Nor imprisoned or put down. In England they put a rope around your neck and let you go, whoops. Just across the channel they hoist that thing, shined and sharpened and tell you lay your sylph-like thing in there. I don’t know why I am so terrified by this capital punishment because I feel I’m a gentleman and live by all the rules and regulations any of you have put down and even a special few of my own. O watch the noose and knots and knives.”
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
“The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time, But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more than we had and now look at you, won’t bring a penny into the house. No-good loafer wasting your time with these books when there are good jobs at the railroad. “
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
“Fold my trousers. Must have everything neat. My underwear is a bit tattered. Whether to sleep naked or have the modesty of these torn undergarments. Modesty at all costs. These are the things that make the marriage happy. Meals on time, sugar, butter and salt on the table. Socks darned and go to the drawer and find a clean shirt. Miss Frost was right in there with those dishes. No fuss. No excuses. Fine person. Am I smelling? Sniff a pit. Little musty. Can’t have everything.”
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
We try a Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec. 96% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. From grapes grown at 1150 meters and aged for 13 months in French oak.
Aroma: This wine, verging on purplish, flashes its blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and lavender soul in a smoky frame. Classic lush and plush Malbec.
Palate: Smooth and smoky full of black fruit and a gentle burn. Tannins are creeping and full almost creating a chewy wine. There is a seam of acidity running through the wine but thank goodness it, barely, takes a back seat to the fruit.
Food Match: Grilled flank steak with a chimichurri sauce and a red onion salad on the side. Vegheads might enjoy it with boiled butter beans tossed in oregano pesto. The wine suits food more than sipping due to its acidity.
Personality: Strong, forceful but not intimidating with a vision quite like Susana my creator.
Cellarbility: Drink now or hold until 2026-year end.
Price: $23 CDN (Ontario).
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 91/100. Patricio Tapia 94. Wine Align 88.
(Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, Domino Del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina, 750 mL, 14.5%).
So far Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot and 2021 Rosso have failed to impress. Incredibly cheap cork that crumbles whilst opening the bottles. Expectations are low for their 2021 Pinot Noir.
Aroma: Thank goodness it smells like Pinot Noir. Off to a roaring start but so far aromas of the Merlot and Rosso have been decent but the aroma does not migrate into the palate. Raspberry, cherry and sweet blackberry.
Palate: Moderate tannins and insipid fruit that struggles to speak to the palate an unfortunate Riverview characteristic.
Personality: I am like my 2021 Merlot and Rosso brother and sister. Drinkable but far from impressive. Please don’t pit me against Chilean red wine at this pricepoint as I do not want to get pummelled.
Cellarbility: Nada.
Food Match: A Friday night wine if you know what I mean.
Price: $25.15 CDN (Ontario).
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 81/100.
(Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir, VQA Four Mile Creek, Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, 750 mL, 13%).
“Things here are a bit desperate. You see, a man gives you a key and you go into this house and start to carry on your life and at the end of the week you give this man three slips of paper with redeemable London written on them and the man lets you stay where you are. If you don’t give this man little pieces of paper you find that he is outside the window watching you scratch your balls and as you may realize, to have impersonal eyes on you while dealing with testicular itch is a most awkward state of affairs.”
J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955.
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