RKS 2023 Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Albariño: An Okie Panokie from Toronto With His Mouth Open

Should I feel a bit like Jed Clampett from the “Beverly Hillibillies” wandering about them infernal goings on in Hollywood when I see Stag’s Hollow Winery in the Okanagan bottling Albariño. I mean that grape is big in Spain and in Portugal’s Vinho Verde but in British Columbia?

Hand picked, hand sorted and destemmed before pressing. Fermented in both stainless steel and older French oak.

Aroma: The peach and apricot has me thinking seriously this may be a Viognier but it isn’t. Perhaps that is the next Euro grape refugee Stag’s Hollow masters. Secondary notes of pineapple and guava.

Palate: My big fear of white wines is that they may be flinty and overly acidic but no such fear rises from the glass here. There is some very fine acidity complimenting the wine. Tangerine, sweet white grapefruit and some citrus. Minerality yes. A battle amongst fruit and minerality/acidity is like a debate between Donnie Trump and Donald Trump.

Personality: You might think me a bit rich and lush when you nose me but taste will dissipate any such thoughts. I make a statement without being flashy.

Food Match: More of a wine meant for food than for sipping. Simply prepared ocean fish like Orata, Spigola or Porgy. Being an Okie Panokie I’d say deep fried possum with peanut butter a la Elvis. Given my bizarre tastes in that regard the winery suggests pairing with a wide range of seafood. Right on.

Cellarbility: As I think of this as a fresh and vibrant wine consume by the end of 2024.

Price: $26 (CDN).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 89/100.

(Stag’s Hollow 2022 Albariño, Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, B.C. VQA, Stag’s Hollow Winery, Okanagan falls, British Columbia, 750 mL, 12.5%).

“The Eternal Memory”: Powerful and Touching Documentary Against the Unwinnable Alzheimer’s: A Mandatory Watch

Years ago I worked as an orderly in a long care facility for seniors in Montreal. The money was good but it was shift work much of the time. 23:00 hours to 07:00 was the worst shift. However it helped finance university and provide for travel funds. There were many “spaced out” residents but in those days who heard of Alzheimer’s?

Fast forward to the widespread acknowledgement of Alzheimer’s as a disease and my initial thoughts at that time were that it just might be a pleasant way to move on to the next world. A little mental fog then a huge fog and death. Thank goodness for documentary films as I saw one several years ago, now forgetting the name, where a son documented his mother’s Alzheimer’s over several years. Alzheimer’s may start gently but as the mental fog strangles the memory there is not only a total collapse of memory but physical deterioration leading to death. That documentary made a huge impact on me. Alzheimer’s is a nasty disease that kills memory and then the body. A double-edged disease.

“The Eternal Memory” chronicles the Alzheimer’s deterioration of Chilean author and journalist Augusto Góngara and the struggle of his wife Paulina Urrutia, a famous Chilean actress and former Minister of National Culture, to care and nurture Augusto and to retain his memory. It is a losing battle she fights with compassion. While it is a study of Alzheimer’s ultimately it is also a tragic love story.

If you seek to understand the progression of Alzheimer’s this is a must view. No matter who it strikes it is an unpleasant story. One might argue the loss of Augusto’s memory is more painful to witness due to his intellectual background where a highly functioning brain is a given.

Augusto, as a television journalist chronicled Captain General Augusto Pinochet’s murderous Chilean military rule from 17December1974-11March1990. Countless murders, executions, beatings, disappearances of opponents. His co-authored book “Chile the Prohibited Memory” in 1997 dealt with the damaged collective memory of the Pinochet years. The view that a nation doesn’t know who it is without a memory. So a philosophical treatise now becomes Augusto’s personal story and with his deterioration his memory grows fainter, his frustration and anger increases but a viewer might assume his love for Paulina somehow remains eternal.

Directed by Maite Alberdi the director of the lighthearted “The Mole Agent” directs the film. You can see my review of “The Mole Agent” here https://setthebarlifestyle.wordpress.com/2021/03/19/the-mole-agent-nominated-for-best-dochttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-hxO7_oEZwumentary-feature-at-the-93rd-academy-awards/

Winner of the Sundance 2023 World Cinema Grand Jury Prize.

Opens in New York on August 11th Los Angeles/San Francisco on August 18th with a U.S. select city rollout by MTV Documentary Films following.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-hxO7_oEZw

RKS 2023 Film Rating: 93/100.

Augusto Góngara died on May 19, 2023.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: My Brilliant Downtown Career

There are country Westies, city Westies and suburban Westies. Well I was a midtown Toronto Westie and that’s just fine with me. I liked my backyard, trees, grass and squirrels to chase. Living in downtown cement where can a Westie pee? On hot cement. Gross.

My moment of fame was marching in some parade called something like Gay Pride. Why were so many there half naked? Why did some men try and look like women and some women like men? I am puzzled. I marched in the parade with a rainbow flag in my mouth and had my photograph taken. Too much noise and loud music drove me a bit, pardon the expression, squirrely.

I also attended a Nuit Blanche celebration in downtown Toronto. We took the subway down which was so very noisy or that is what my sensitive Westie ears picked up. I really had to poop badly so I did it in a flower bed at City Hall. There were thousands of people so in a few places I had to be picked up. We played chase with a security guard at a big office tower where there was a huge installation.

There was also Kensington Market with people called Communists handing out newspapers and punks with their vicious huge dogs hanging out at a very dingy bar. I must admit I loved Jamaican patties, non spicy of course. And the cornbread when it was toasted at home and served with peanut butter. A Westie in bliss!

But not boasting so many people would stop and look at me and say how handsome I was. West Highland Terriers are beyond cute. They are God’s perfect canine creation! Ok I boast a bit!

So yes I never had a brilliant downtown career. And I was fine with that.

And I was never hit by a falling walnut from the huge black walnut tree in the neighbour’s yard!

RKS 2023 Wine: A Frappato From Planeta in Sicily: Looks Can Be Deceiving

A very light and transparent red. Hints at a light red.

Aroma: Light indeed. Bright red cherry intertwined with mega raspberry tinged by wildfire smoke.

Palate: Not exactly a hefty punch but the colour of the wine, light in this case, easily could lead you to a false assumption. While there is plenty of raspberry kicking around be prepared for some hints of Azorean volcanic soil grown Orange Pekoe tea. Some cactus pear and cinnamon and a peppery finish. Not much tannic presence but the pepper gives the wine some muscle and a long finish. Given this summer wet sauna weather serve slightly chilled . I like to refer to this wine as quasi rosé.

Personality: I look like a 99-pound weakling but looks are deceiving in my case. Light on the nose and more substantial on the palate.

Food Match: Grilled rainbow trout filets or farm raised salmon. Bagels, cream cheese and lox. Better yet watch with a glass the great Italian comedy “Johnny Steccchino”.

Cellarbility: I would consume by the end of 2024.

Price: $24.95 (CDN).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 89/100. Jamessuckling.com 91.

(Planeta 2021 Frapatto, Sicilia Vittoria DOC, Planeta, Menfi, Italia. 750 mL, 12.5%).

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: The Cleaning Lady and My Sixth Sense

Many dogs it is thought have a sixth sense. Master Robert and Mistress Fotini were amazed how I knew at least half an hour prior to the arrival of our Cleaning Lady that she was coming. I’d start barking and making a ruckus by the front door every single time without fail. Why I never liked the Cleaning Lady I simply have no answer for that.

And CLEANING LADY I am so sorry for having nipped you. You were in MY begging corner and I nipped you. A overzealous West Highland Terrier in his youth. We dogs are sometimes acting on pure instinct and invade my begging spot some protective urge sweeps over me.

I was crated after that when she arrived but there was just a bit of fear in her eyes. Please forgive me CLEANING LADY! West Highland Terrier’s have a Scotch blood in them that can get out of hand.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: The Terrible Itch!

West Highland Terriers have a reputation that is somewhat itchy! Some of us Westies are prone to skin problems.

I won’t go into the details but suffice to say a little itch became a hot inflammation. Biting and chewing gave glorious but temporary relief but moments later the itch burned more. Poor me and The Stephen Family. A vet prescribed some medication which only worsened the problem. Master Robert simply didn’t know what to do and in desperation we visited a special, and very expensive, canine dermatologist and it was determined I was allergic to the medicine that had been prescribed. The drug company picked up the dermatologist’s bill. Did I recall Master Robert, a lawyer, say in a fit of frustration, “I’ll sue their ass?” Eventually a drug called Aquopel was prescribed and it worked wonders although I had to wear a cone for a week to ensure I couldn’t chew my skin further. I had to take daily medicated baths for a month. I HATE water!!!! I was also restricted to chicken only kibble. And everything worked wonders. I had a little flare up a few years later but Aquopel worked immediately. So dear pet owner should your Westie have skin problems the problem could be yeast, food, environmental or even psychological. No way you’ll get me to a dog shrink!

I suggest if you have a West Highland Terrier, or perhaps any dog, you may want to go to westiesinneed.com for a review of “the skin issue”. The message may be that veterinarians do not always have the answer so you’ll have to do some leg work to combat skin issues. Trial and error.

RKS 2023 Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2021 Dolcetto: The Little Sweet One?

Dolcetto from Italy’s Piedmont region is an easy drinking low acid wine well suited to every night fare which sure as heck beats our Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s description of certain wines as a “Friday night wine” which is code for a stinker! What has Stag’s Hollow done in the Okanagan to this sweet one? Dolce in Italian means sweet. One must remark that Stag’s Hollow is brave enough to grow Teroldego so why not Dolcetto?

Aged in both concrete and older French oak.

Aroma: Black cherry, gooseberry, red currant with a twist of dark chocolate. I am not picking up hints of sweetness.

Palate: Bluntly put lip smacking delicious. A beefy experience for the palate indeed signifying there is nothing “little” on the palate. There is some initial tartness but at the core of this wine there dwells chocolate covered cherry intermingled with sour cherry and a suitable titch of bitterness. The acidity is fine and perhaps for a finely trained palate a need to consume the wine with food. Isn’t that true for almost all Italian wine?

Personality: I am non-pretentious and humble and I am glad I have been transplanted to the Okanagan by a Braveheart winery willing to risk producing a wine with a grape not known far and wide.

Food Match: The wine is extremely versatile and popular with an antipasto misto. Given its fine acidity and the onslaught of fresh field tomatoes in many parts of Canada now I would go with a tomato salad or a Greek potato and tomato salad with anchovies and fresh basil. The potatoes must be served warm and with EVO oil. Of course, for your Thanksgiving turkey this wine and Stag’s Hollow 2020 Teroldego would be boffo. By the way the winery is hosting its annual Harvest Dinner on September 13th in partnership with Chef Ben Godin the whiz kid chef at the nearby Wild Goose Bistro. As luck would have it my corporate jet is undergoing its overhaul at that time and I will have to miss this event and a valiant attempt on my part to put my wine tourism writing skills to work will not occur. Geez I have always wanted to skinny dip at midnight under the Okanagan Falls!

Cellarbility: Drink by the end of 2024.  

Price: As the wine is not yet released I have no confirmed price but the 2020 was $26 (CDN). You will most likely have to contact the winery about availability but due to limited case production if you are outside of British Columbia best order through their website.

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 91/100.

(Stag’s Hollow 2021 Dolcetto Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia VQA, Stag’s Hollow Winery, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, 750 mL, 12.5 %).

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: No More Black and White Squirrels!

West Highland Terriers are not hunting dogs but perhaps more a term I hate “ratters” or “earth dogs”. Our speciality are rodents. We are fierce diggers and burrowing in a hole will not save a rodent we are on the trail of.

Here in Toronto there were rodents and yes I have seen rats and mice. Squirrels and rabbits too. There were a few squirrels which I swear were taunting me. They would sit on the fence and watch me as I barked at them. I could swear they were laughing at me. I once had a squirrel at my mercy but Master Robert ordered me to back off. The quarry was sick. Not fair game! Rabbits were too darn fast. No chance.

Then a close call. It was 07:00 and Master Robert let me out for a pee and there was a black and white squirrel. Attack! Right on target for a kill until Master Robert rushed out and roared , “NO!” so I veered off half way on my attack route and what an awful smell. Poor Master Robert had to bathe me in my medicated shampoo. He explained that squirrel was a skunk. I was only slightly dinged thank goodness. Yes Westies like humans are always learning life lessons.

RKS Poetry: “Just the Death of a Dog”

Just the Death of a Dog?

Just a dog you say?
Just a dog

15 years by your side
Morning, afternoon and evening walks

The click clack of nails on the floor rushing to greet you
The bark at the door “protecting” you from threats

Warm greetings with wagging tail and kisses upon your return home

An eternal friend and protector no matter what direction the wind blows

Cuddles under the sheets as the winter wind howls outside
An alarmed rescue of you from a loud sneeze

Gratitude and nuzzling
Sensing your pain
Unfailing loyalty and
Memories, memories and memories
Your morning chunk of bagel a ritual
Chopping of carrots you are ready for a chunk
Stupid and insipid memories you say

A last kiss on your now cold head
a cruel memory
15 years gone by a needle

I howl in the Land Beyond because I am no longer there to comfort you

Just a dog you say?

Robert K. Stephen

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: The Ham Bone Incident

Wasn’t it Mama Cass that died in the bathtub after choking to death on a ham sandwich? Geez, what a way to go!

Well I was close to a year old when I had a Mama Cass incident. Master Robert had two poodles in the past, Suzy and Ginny, who are now my best friends in The Land Beyond. Master Robert had given Suzy and Ginny bones to gnaw on. But you had to be very careful as to what type of bone you gave a dog as a bone splinter can kill a dog. For example poultry bones are a definite no no for dogs as they splinter easily. Ginny and Suzy never had a “bone incident”.

Master Robert gave me a big ham bone and sent me to the backyard to have a tasty chew. Well unfortunately never having any bone gnawing experience or Puppy School education on the topic I stupidly swallowed the entire bone and started choking. Poor me and poor Master Robert who picked me up and put me in the car and we roared the emergency veterinary clinic. Master Robert kept saying very bad human words about himself punctuated frequently by “stupid idiot”.

The emergency vets were incredulous about how a 14-pound West Highland Terrier could have swallowed such an enormous bone. In fact when I was “out of the woods” they called me “Little Python”. Why do I have so many nicknames? But after a huge vet bill both Master Robert and I headed home in an exhausted state. I don’t really appreciate tight hugs but I let Master Robert sneak in a few ones with numerous apologies on his part. That’s the last bone I ever had. Solid meat chunks from then on.

I talked to Suzy and Ginny about that and they were most surprised. Suzy did admit, and Master Robert had told me about it, that Suzy was the most kind and loving dog but approach her while she was gnawing on a bone look out. And never try and take away a bone from her. Don’t you humans have an expression, “Don’t mess with a dog and his bone!”.

Suzy also related told me a story of her early suburban years in Pointe Claire, Montreal. She’d be let out to wander the neighbourhood and upset a few garbage cans looking for food. Dr. Simpson across the street often had his garbage can raided by Suzy. Goodness knows what bones she enjoyed! Please humans remember as young dogs we can be a bit rambunctious!

Oh and then that time out around the block with Master Robert whilst sniffing in the leaves I gobbled up some bone and started choking. Well Puppy School training came in handy as I was trained to let a human hand go in my mouth so I was not surprised when Master Robert dislodged that bone by putting his hand in my mouth.