RKS 2023 Wine: Chardonnay Leads the Pack in Ontario

According to the Vintners Quality Alliance of Ontario’s 2022 Annual Report the top two grapes grown in Ontario are Riesling (13%) and Chardonnay (12%).

So let’s delve into an Ontario Chardonnay a Leaning Post Chardonnay 2020 The Fifty.

Aroma: Classic notes of apple and pear predominate. Some nectarine. And they are clean and powerful. Not a hint of funkiness or anything to worry about. Simple and direct hinting at a clean palate.

Palate: Delicious and the clean fruit just keeps on going. Apple, pear and a hint of lemon meringue pie. No out of whack acidity that plagues many Chardonnays. The majority of the wine was fermented in concrete tank then the remainder in both oak and stainless steel and after fermentation all wine was aged on full lees in stainless steel and concrete. 

Personality: Delightfully charming with no tricks up my sleeve.

Food Match: The winery suggests brie, sole meuniere and lemon roasted chicken which I agree with depending on the amount of lemon in the chicken. My lemon chicken is Greek style with loads of lemon which many a Chardonnay simply couldn’t handle and in my case I would suggest an Ontario Sparkling Riesling.

Cellarbility: The winery suggests 5-8 years.

Price: $24.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Michael Godel 92/100.

(leaning post Chardonnay 2020 The Fifty, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Leaning Post Wines, Stoney Creek, Ontario, 750 mL, 12.5%). 540 cases made.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: West Highland Terrier Vacuum Cleaner Pays the Price!

West Highland Terriers, like so many other dogs, love food action. By that I mean patiently waiting as our human masters prepare food in their kitchens. Is it instinct that has us vacuum up anything that “falls” on the floor by our keen noses. Yes I was not born yesterday so I know sometimes our masters may “drop” a piece of food “by accident” knowing we are there to vacuum it up.

Well one day Master Robert was in the kitchen preparing some Mexican food called “fajitas”. A piece of chicken “dropped” on the floor. Thank you, Master Robert! Then a piece of cheese fell on the floor and I think Master Robert failed to realize this drop and I hustled up for some grub with a quick sniff sending a signal to my brain CHEESE! Vacuum cleaner Dylan in action hoovered it up and despite a bit of spice and heat YUMMY!

My stomach started gurgling in the middle of the night and poop and poop all over the house. So humiliating. When Master Robert came down to put me out for my morning widdle he stepped in a pool of poop. I expected an angry burst but instead a laugh. He knew it was the Jalapeno Monterrey Jack Cheese. He picked me up and said no more of that hot Mexican stuff in this house! Out I went for my morning widdle.

RKS 2023 Wine: Mencía by Another Name: Dão Meia Serra Jaen: CODE RED!

In the Bierzo region of Spain not that far from the Dão region in Portugal the Mencía grape in the king of red wine. In the Dão region of Portugal the Mencía grape is known as Jaen and in the Dão it is most often blended with other grapes. We try a Meia Serra 2018 Jaen.

Aroma: Blackberry, cassis, root beer and coconut. There is perhaps a bit too much coffee indicative of a grape that has been hanging on the vine or has been in the bottle a bit too long.

Palate: If black cherry can be tired it is awfully tired in this wine. Age has robbed this wine of its fruit. I have had extensive tastings in at least 10 wineries in the Dão and this red wine is not reflective of Dão quality.

Personality: Yes I am big in the glass but I lack ideology and don’t know where I am going.

Food match: Code Red. Code Red i.e. A Friday night wine……..

Price: $23.95 (Ontario).

Cellarbility: Perhaps already too late to drink.

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 59/100.

(Meia Serra Jaen 2018, Dão D.O.C., Casa Santos Lima, Aldeia Galega Da Mercenna, Portugal, 750 mL, 14%).

RKS 2023 Wine: South Africa’s Go to White: Chenin Blanc?

In France if you are drinking Chenin Blanc think of Vouvray. In South Africa think of Chenin Blanc. Many think South African Chenin Blanc is a go to South African white wine.

How about a Boschendal 2021 Chenin Blanc from the W.O. Coastal Region.

Aroma: Pineapple, pear, apple with mango.

Palate: This is no skimpy and flinty white wine but neither is it a heavy hitter. It is a medium bodied wine meaning it has body and presence in the mouth. Good for both sipping and with food. Think of mango, pineapple, tangerine with a dusting of ginger. The finish is moderate. A well-crafted wine.

Personality: You’ll like me if you like a wine with some heft and character and not overtaken by singular aromas or overly high acidity. If I was compared to a Canadian politician it would be to the late Jack Layton who may have had a leftist New Democratic Party leaning but presented himself as highly likeable, reasonable and not dogmatic. Liked by many but not enough to form a Canadian government.

Food Match: Grilled chicken in a tarragon cream sauce with Jasmine rice to soak up that glorious sauce.

Price: $19.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Decanter World Wine Awards 90.

(Boschendal Sommelier Selection 2021 Chenin Blanc, W.O. Coastal Region, Boschendal Wines, Groot Drakenstein, South Africa, 750 mL, 13%).

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: The Art of Polite “Begging”

I remember Master Robert reading Mistress Fotini an article from the New York Times about how we dogs have survived so close to humans for many years. Apparently, the author believed dogs conned humans for food so successfully they assured themselves survival. Balderdash.

Many pet owners refer to dogs “begging” for food. How insulting! I would prefer to say we dogs love “sharing” food with humans.

The art of sharing is sophisticated. A polite dog never makes a spectacle by jumping up on laps or whining or swiping food from a table. Master Robert told me a story about Jimmy an English Springer Spaniel who when Master Robert and Mistress Fotini went on a walk with Jimmy’s owner returned to see a one-pound block of cheese left on the table missing. Jimmy’s cheese breath gave him away.

When I share food with The Stephen Family I behave myself. I hang close by but not too close and give a sad look and lo and behold something, healthy of course, ends up in my bowl. They think I don’t see them placing tasty morsels in my bowl.

On very special occasions like my birthday, Greek Easter, Christmas or Thanksgiving I really go to town. I love a chunk of lamb, cooked vegetables and turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes sends me to the moon.

Respect and proper decorum are key to food sharing with humans. Rowdiness and poor manners simply won’t do for us Westies. Sad eyes are often the best method.

A warning though I have a preferred sharing spot and you best not cross it when I am in action.

Dylan Stephen West Highland Terrier Memories From the Land Beyond: A Vicious Snarling Brute: Master Robert Saves the Day!

I love walking all over town and even downtown but as a West Highland Terrier I have my favourite circuit where I walk Master Robert. West Highland Terriers walk their masters in case you haven’t heard! I have serious business responding to replies to my messages…you know pee mail and all that.

One day smelling the warm breezes of spring I headed off with Master Robert straight down the street instead of making our usual circuit around the block. Ten minutes from home we heard the most vicious growl. A killer growl. Master Robert said a naughty word to me saying I should get my ass moving and he was very tense. We Westies sense human being emotions so well. There was a German Sheppard behind a fence with a goofy oodle dog of some sort. Master Robert almost headed into a run but 30 seconds later the Shepp was charging us with murder in his eyes. I turned around and that Shepp had its mouth open and was ready to sink her teeth into my bum. Master Robert pulled me aside away from this Shepp and kept kicking it over and over until it squealed and ran down the street. I could have taken on that mutt with my eyes closed. I would lay down my life to protect my master. This is the heart and soul of a Westie. Master Robert is as brave as a Westie! Actually both of us were shaking but our friendship was deeply cemented. What would have happened if Mistress Fotini was walking me? Of course, Master Robert is half Scottish which explains his bravery! Dylan and Master Robert….the Bravehearts of Toronto!

Oh yes this Shepp was called Layla and as we later found out had attacked and injured six dogs. The result was that Master Robert contacted Animal Control and Layla was ordered to wear a muzzle. Despite that she attacked Walton my buddy and took a chunk out of his leg while wearing a muzzle. I heard Master Robert say to Mistress Fotini if he lived in Florida and had a Glock Layla would be “dispatched”.

RKS 2023 Wine: All That Glitters is Not Gold: Mt. Monster 2019 Limestone Coast Shiraz

Australian wine bottles are often plastered with medal stickers. This Mt. Monster 2019 Shiraz from the Limestone Coast has three gold medal stickers. Irrelevant I say as pay your entry fee and walk away with some sort of medal. And often you must pay the wine competition organizer to affix/buy the stickers. A similar analogy can be made to many films that proudly trumpet they are part of an “official selection” for a film festival.

Does this Mt. Monster Shiraz glitter with its three gold medals? Anyone hear of Fool’s Gold?

Aroma: Plum, blackberry, blueberry and some black cherry. Perhaps I should simply refer to this as a wine “full of black fruit”.

Palate: No Frankenstein tannins looming in the shadows. A bit of a burn on the palate and unlike some Shiraz that has tinges of pepper at 14.5% this Johnny Storm has 14.5% alcohol. There is some creaminess in all the heat. Lots of blueberry pie. Short hot finish. Lack of complex fruit.

Personality: Perhaps the Incredible Hulk with lots of muscle but not a lot of brain. Certainly more of a Lex Luthor than a Clark Kent.

Food Match: Like swirling intestines in “Night of the Living Dead” substitute a spicy lamb sausage for intestines. I said sausages not Frank-n-Furter like in the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”.

Cellarbility: Count Dracula sleeps well for years in a coffin but this wine will not.

Price: $21.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating:  85/100. The gold is not glittering.

(Mt. Monster, Limestone Coast 2019 Shiraz, Morambro Creek, Padthaway, Australia, 750 mL, 14.5%)

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: The Black Lab Attack

As I am now in the land beyond you know my last days were not pleasant. So let me recount some memories of my life on earth to divert focus away from those unpleasant last moments.

The Black Lab Attack

If you are familiar with West Highland Terriers much has been written about their character. Stubborn, loyal, independent and loving but little is mentioned about bravery. West Highland Terriers will fight to the death to protect their human family. It is in our nature.

I have been the subject of four dog attacks. I can give you one example.

I was with Mistress Fotini and Master Andrew walking in one of my favourite Toronto parks called Sherwood Park and it is more of a forest than a park. Heavily shaded by many trees with my absolute favourite off leash trail. Yes a trail not a penned in play area.

Well we were enjoying our walk in the leashed area. I had my leash on. Suddenly an off leash black Labrador with its teeth barred and snarling came charging at us. Master Andrew dropped my leash in shock and I roared into action. A twenty-pound Westie against an eighty-pound dog! Like some medieval jesting contest, we charged each other head on. As I leapt in the air with my jaws aiming for that nasty Labrador’s neck which I intended to rip apart he squealed in terror swerved and took a chunk out of a Sheltie.

That Labrador was owned by thoughtless humans who simply mumbled that they had never seen this before. Yeah sure. They also had their brute off leash in a mandatory leashed area. They failed to apologize.

Master Andrew and Mistress Fotini gave me a hug and said how brave a Westie is. For me just another day as a West Highland Terrier.

Next: Master Robert and I fight off the attack of a mad German Sheppard.

RKS Literature: Mrs. Dombey’s Mourning Period (Charles Dickens)

“That small world, like the great one out of doors, had the capacity of easily forgetting its dead; and when the cook had said it was the common lot, and the butler had said who’d have thought it, and the housemaid had said she couldn’t hardly believe it, and the footman had said it seemed exactly like a dream, they had quite worn the subject out, and began to think their mourning was wearing rusty too.”

Charles Dickens, “Dombey and Son”

RKS 2023 Wine: Malivoire 2019 Estate Grown Chardonnay: A Friend of Nancy Reagan!

Yes, we Canadians can make wine but chances it is about as rare in your country as a wine from the United Kingdom in Canada and there is some great English wine e.g. Nyetimber. One of Canada’s most well-known wine regions is Niagara about a 90-minute drive west of Toronto. Yes fine food, great wines, great winery restaurants and lots of spectacular scenery. Malivoire is located on the outskirts of the less than bustling town of Beamsville. Perhaps Malivoire is best known for its Chardonnays and Gamays.

Why not introduce you to a Canadian Chardonnay from Malivoire namely a Malivoire 2019 Estate Grown Chardonnay?

Primarily grown in calcareous soil the grapes are characterized by acidity and low sugars. In this case 0.9 grams of residual sugar per litre. The grapes are from three different vineyards. A mixture of destemmed and whole cluster grapes. Fermentation in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel.

Aroma: Pear, apple, guava and a hint of banana offer hints of a tight and lean Chardonnay.

Palate: Indeed tight and instead of acidity there is a bright beacon of vibrancy. Certainly, no gush of fruit. Some baked apple, faint lemon meringue pie all enveloped in smoothness a bit surprising considering the low residual sugar.

Personality: Quite like a serious news broadcaster almost Pierre Bertonish!

Food match: Stone me to death when I say memories of Chablis so I say Malpeque oysters or any oyster with high saline and iodine qualities. Why not Nancy Reagan chicken https://www.familycookbookproject.com/recipe/250970/nancy-reagans-baja-california-chicken.html

While Nancy said. “Just say no to drugs” I say, “Just say no to over oaked Chardonnay!”

Cellarbility: I can’t see much improvement with age but consume by the end of 2025.

Price: $21.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 91/100.

(Malivoire 2019 Estate Grown Chardonnay, VQA Beamsville Bench, The Malivoire Wine Company, Beamsville, Ontario, 750 mL, 12.5%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 573147).