RKS Wine: Tavel Rosé

The Château d’Aqueria Tavel is dark pink. Take it up a notch or two and you would have red wine. It’s dark colour doesn’t surprise me considering it is from the Rhône. Rhône wines are seldom dainty. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Clairette.

As far as aromatics go chock full of raspberry and strawberry. There are also generous waves of red cherry. Overall there is sweet red fruit ruling the roost. The palate presents the same combination and type of fruit that is on the nose but there is a twist of dark chocolate and white pepper at the end of the palate. Straightforward, simple and delicious. Perfect for sipping but with substance enough to handle wild caught salmon and rainbow trout filets topped with yogurt, mustard and tarragon sauce. It would also suit grilled chicken with a spice rub. While it won’t improve in the bottle this can be held until 2027.

(Château d’Aqueria Tavel 2021 AC Tavel, Jean Olivier, Tavel, France, $24.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 319368, 750 mL,14%, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 4September1983: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Pig Slop, Puking and a Near Passport Heart Attack

The flight from Montreal to Puerto Vallarta was delayed by one hour because one engine aboard the antique DC-8 did not start. That gives you a feeling of extreme confidence. We were delayed by an hour. Severe turbulence for the entire flight and the vomit bags were well used. I am sure the pig slop served on this AeroMexico flight exacerbated the puking. A very rough landing. Remind me not to travel on AeroMexico again. A Sunquest rep met several of us and a small group headed to a VW bus to a dearly expensive room at the Sheraton.  I was miffed at being given a room on the ground floor with a flooded terrace. Complained to reception and was told to come on down for a room change. Upon approaching the reception area the clerk knew nothing about the room change but a few dollars in his hands reminded him about the the situation with a beautiful room overlooking the ocean the result. A few passengers were puking outside and a pool of vomit had settled nicely behind a potted plant in the lobby. As I was unpacking I realized I had left my passport under a pillow in the rejected room. A surly night clerk took me to the room where in a sigh of relief my passport was recovered. Crashed out to the delectable sell of sea air and the sound of pounding waves.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 27July1978: Torremolinos Good Riddance! On the Wrong Plane: Choking on Cheap Spanish Cigarettes on an Army Flight

I was swept up in a stampede to the flight to Madrid. Had I hesitated I would have been trampled. A brand-new Iberia DC-9 to Madrid then on to Lisbon. Unfortunately, I had been directed to the wrong plane but going to Madrid. They snooped me out and ejected me from the plane. Instead, a dingy Boeing 707 which was a charter flight to Madrid full of Spanish soldiers smoking cheap Spanish cigarettes. What a stench. At 4 a.m. in the morning finally back in Lisbon for the flight back to Montreal. A rough sleep at the airport and in the afternoon a flight on Air Portugal back to Montreal.

RKS Film: “Days of Daisy”: Something for Everybody!

“Days of Daisy” has its world premiere at Dances with Films indie festival on June 14th at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and after that can be purchased through VOD.

It may appear to you initially as one of those “chick flicks” and as it concludes a film in the “warm and fuzzy” genre. But in between and throughout is some serious acting with nary a weak link. And the force of evil is social media obsessed teen Sadie (Sadie Fontenot) a bundle of sweet meanness up there with “Damien the Omen”. Behind Fontenot Daisy’s mother Camille (Cathie Choppin) is the mother from hell. Shout out to casting here by Lisa Marie Dupree and Jonnie Stapleton.

The film could have easily gone down the tubes had it not been for solid acting throughout. Daisy (Jency Griffin Hogan) and Jack Palmer (Bryan Langlitz) have some real magic between them.

Daisy is a school librarian approaching 40 and realizes her biological click is ticking in terms of giving birth and boyfriend Steven is not setting the clock as he admits children are a no go for him so Daisy says adieu and makes acquaintance with photographer Jack Palmer and the relationship stumbles along. Daisy enlists Jack to help her transition from librarian to art teacher and between them they inspire the class to put on an art show to showcase their talents and raise funds for art supplies.

The ending is warm and fuzzy and even Sadie and Camille prove their decency as human beings. So summing up there is something for everyone in the film. If this is indie filmmaking it shines here.

Filmed in Baton Rouge and Shreveport Louisiana. I can feel the warm breezes from the Gulf! You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/708723662

Directed by Alexander Jeffery.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 25July1978: Torremolinos, Spain: The Meagreness of Torremolinos: Gypsies vs Hustlers!

I could call Torremolinos a cesspool but being polite I will say it is a meagre place full of pasty and ill behaved Brits boozing it up and partying away drinking British beer of course. Just like home! Why would people cram into chartered jets and save all year to come to Miami Beach here? Hopped on a bus in search of a beach and it seemed most stunk of sewage. Crashed a hotel pool full of Scandinavians. Trudged home in the blazing heat and had a shower with water spilling out all over the place. What a pit this place is. Dinner at the Moroccan frequented Lanjaron restaurant for chicken with potatoes, soup, salad and mineral water for $3.75. Back home after an ice cream to an increasingly depressing room. It gives you great confidence to return and see a rat scurrying over your doorstep. And while at dinner there was a near gypsy riot in front of our table. There was a dispute amongst the gypsies and the hustlers. Begging is big business in Torremolinos.

RKS Wine: Dão Memories

My last media trip to a wine region was to the Dão in Portugal. You know those days prior to COVID. I must have visited over a dozen wineries all in beautiful settings. I think the star grape was Encruzado which makes a beguiling white wine. For what we see in Ontario the Douro leads the Portuguese pack followed by Alentejano. The Dão regrettably is way back.

The bizarre topography of the Dão: Photo Robert K. Stephen

This Evidência is a blend of Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Bical. On the nose tangerine, apricot and guava kissed by minerality. On the palate a dry and smooth wine. Just when you might think it lacks character there is a sudden updraft of blood orange. A short finish. This would suit white fleshed ocean fish or grilled chicken breast that has been marinated in beer, smoked paprika, merquen and a hint of Saigon cinnamon.  For vegheads an Umbrian Carbonara might do the trick or some Turkish green beans. A decent quaffer on those hot summer days and at $12.95 an inflation beater.

This a creature of stainless steel with no oak.

Parras is a huge producer of wines throughout Portugal. They have a 100% Encruzado so I can only hope we see it in Canada so you may be able to share my fascination with that grape all on its lonesome.

(Evidência 2020, DOC Dâo, Parras, Portugal, $12.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25244, 750 mL, 13.5%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 22July1978: Torremolinos, Spain: Eating That Stinky Smoked Ham and Cheese Sandwich on the Bus! Moroccans and The Tittering British Girl

There must be a horrific heat wave as woke up in a soggy sweat very lethargic. Took the bus to Fuengirola and Mijas. I made the mistake of eating a very stinky sandwich on the bus. Clear the decks. Mijas has changed drastically since my last visit 5 years ago. There seem to be a million tourist shops especially jewelry. The little American ex-pat hippie artistic community has morphed into a tourist trap. Went to the cheapo Moroccan frequented restaurant and hit the Piper’s Club discotheque which was busy but jammed when I left early in the morning. Stopped for some grilled shrimp and a beer. Upon returning home to Moroccans next to me were having a grand time with some tittering British girl. Dropped off to sleep amidst grunts and groans. I hope the poor lass survived.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 18July1978: Vila Real, Portugal & Seville & Torremolinos Spain: Drunk and Fornicating Brits and Moroccan Sexual Predators

Up early in the blazing heat and off to the market for yogurt, peaches, figs and wafer cookies. Off to the ferry for a ten-minute trip to Spain. The crowd was pushing and shoving like in a panic. In a tiny town in Spain found the bus station and booked passage to Seville at 16:30. Dropped off baggage at bus station and headed out for lunch with sweat rolling down. The bus to Seville was a milk run and finally arrived in Seville at 120 degrees. It was too late to make a connection to Malaga so ended up in a hostel pit. Had a great dinner although the waiter made a “mistake” and I ended up with a massive fish. Gringo rip off? A huge $9 dinner with a fish fit for two.

20July1978: Torremolinos Again! Sleazy Moroccans

Back in Torremolinos again. Was it 1972 I was here with Mom? It was raunchy and touristy then and it has declined since then. Many youths soaked in liquor and decadence mostly Brits. Immature and ignorant. Why leave England when you have British pubs and clubs in Torremolinos. Monkey’s playing about on chains and hey take a picture of it gringos. And lager ladies and gents puke all over the place when clubbing and fornicate in the streets. AH….the British Empire!

Staying in a meagre room very basic with sleazy Moroccans desperately cruising for European girls and a dream of escaping Morocco across the strait. It is sex and seduction for the Moroccan greasers. Money is running out so go where the Moroccans go. Like the Lanjoran Restaurant up the street for $3.00 chicken and a glass of wine. In addition to Moroccan sexual predators and pasty pissed Brits there are fat waddling tourists from God knows where. What a vulgar middle-class breed.  

Photo: Daily Mirror

RKS Wine: Ontario Rosés: Run To, Run Away or Keep Your Distance: Peninsula Ridge

Cabernet Franc in Ontario is one of Ontario’s great strengths. Can it translate that strength to a rosé made from Cabernet Franc? The only way is to try a Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé 2021.

In colour somewhere between dark and light pink. As for aromatics an interesting combination of strawberry and orange Creamsicle. Some raspberry and tangerine. On the palate there is definitely some substance and bulk to the wine. This is far from an anemic and insipid rosé. There is a sudden updraft of tangerine after the initial watermelon, cranberry and cherry entanglement. A bit more than a short finish. I like my rosé with some backbone and this medium bodied example can stand well aside a seared tuna steak, lamb burger or a Niçoise salad. Best drink by December 26th as this might be an interesting match for turkey and a winner with roast ham.

This is an Ontario run to rosé!

(Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé 2021, VQA Beamsville Bench, Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery Limited, Beamsville, Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 177840, $15.95, 12.5%, 750 mL, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1978: Vila Real de San Antonio: The Cheating Vicious Vendor and the Plate of Snails

Woke up in the pit a 09:00 and had a peach and a pear then off to the beach in a lethargic mood as it is blistering hot. The sea air, water and sun both saps your energy yet revitalizes you. Munched on a donut and hit the surf. Lunch at 12:30 which was seafood soup, fried squid and a glass of Casal Garcia vinho verde. It took the waiter over half an hour to bring the bill. Returned to the beach until 5 and had a beer at a seaside café watching a drunk insisting on buying children rides on a merry go round. Bought a sweater from a vicious looking woman who tried to cheat me on the exchange rate. Had a plate of delicious snails and a cold beer and took the bus into town. A cold shower back in our uncleaned room. We tried a restaurant but seemed to be a victim of tourist discrimination as we were not served despite the fact we were there before many of the locals who received prompt service. Went to Gomes again and ordered but all three dishes ordered were sold out so we settled for a cod dish. Had a Sumol at a local café and returned to the pit.