RKS Literature: Schools as Coercion?

“The masses had long since learned that for the education and discipline needed in the battle against the decaying bourgeoisie  they should look elsewhere than to coercive schools imposed by the authorities; and by now every idiot knew that the school system developed by the cloisters of the Middle Ages was as anachronistic and absurd as a periwig, that no one owed his real education to schools anymore, and that free, open instruction by public lectures, exhibitions, films and so forth was far superior to that found in any schoolroom.”

Thomas Mann, “The Magic Mountain”, 1924

RKS 2023 Wines: Matetic from Chile: Glamping and Wine!

Having attended the first annual Wine and Travel Week in Porto with a side trip to Pico Island in late February I had the opportunity to chat with a representative of Chilean winery Matetic as they had a booth as an exhibitor in the Alfândega in Porto. We didn’t talk wine but rather accommodations available at the winery including glamping which in more readily understandable terms means glamorous camping. Matetic has three levels of accommodation at the winery. Your standard luxury room, basic cabin units and glamping. Chileans are not afraid to glamp and given the accommodations I would have no fear of glamping either! Given the weak Canadian dollar perhaps glamping is our destiny.

Many of us are Eurocentric here in North America so we focus our wine/tourism/gastronomy thoughts in the European direction. It takes about the same time from Toronto to fly to Athens as it does to Santiago in Chile. For someone who has been travelling to Europe for five decades perhaps it is time to travel to Chile where great food, wine and gastronomic delights await. Somehow heading to Matetic seems a bit more attractive after learning about their winery, food and accommodations. Who knows I may get there eventually!

As their booth had no wine to sample as all the other booths it was exciting to see one of their wines newly arrived at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario called Corralillo a red blend from Valle de San Antonio very close to Santiago so very convenient. The blend is 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Malbec and 50% Syrah.

Aroma: Rich black fruit predominates but as often is the case with many Chilean red wines I have sampled, particularly Carménère, there is a rich little streak of raspberry running through the wine.

Palate: The raspberry is more noticeable as it combines with black cherry and blackberry. There is a slight peppery influence on the long and clean finish.

Personality: I am a youngster who requires until 2025 to really open up and strut my stuff. Perfectly drinkable now but I think you will like me more with food especially with food prepared at the winey restaurant. Chilean wine, Chilean food while in Chile. Who could ask for anything more!

Food Match: Not having sampled the gastronomy of Chile I am at a bit of a disadvantage here. But why not a rich Mushroom Bourguignon served over Polenta?

Cellarbility: If Steppenwolf can sing “Born to be Wild” perhaps this wine can sing “Born to Age” and it will do so nicely up to 2029.

Price: $25.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 91/100. Tim Atkin 92.

(Corralillo 2019 Winemaker’s Blend, D.O. Valle de San Antonio, Santiago, Chile, 750 mL, 14.5%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 541177)

RKS Literature: Not So True to His Stated Beliefs!

“Well he said a great many things about money, the soul of the sate, as he put it, and spoke out against property, because it’s thievery, and against capitalist wealth in general, which he said, I believe, was fuel for the fires of hell-at least if I’m mistaken that’s how he put it-and sang the praises of the medieval injunction against interest. And yet, he himself-excuse me, but he himself must be…..It is really a surprise to enter that room-all that silk.”

Thomas Mann, “The Magic Mountain”, 1924

RKS 2023 Wines: Alentejo Next Time?

I was in Porto at the end of February for Wine and Travel Week. Then after three days it was off to the Azores. I have never been to the Azores so I do not regret my decision. I had the choice of several wine regions Alentejo being one of them but I have visited that area years before I had a keen interest in wine. Perhaps next year if I am invited to Wine and Travel Week again. While there is much red wine in Alentejo there was virtually none in the Azores. In fact I tried two red wines one from the Pico Island Co-op which was anemic and another bought in demijohns from a neighbour of our host. While it was not eyepopping the wine made from Isabella grapes was the perfect match for a local fish soup.

So we try a 2019 Portas da Herdade from Alentejo. It is a Vinho Regional Alentejano and is a blend of Syrah, Tricandeira and Touriga Nacional.

Aroma: Blueberry, black cherry, raspberry and a hint of rhubarb.

Palate: The wine presents a stiff upper lip perhaps protesting it is a bit young to drink needing some time to flesh out. It is taut as it slumbers in the bottle. You have all the fruits you detect in the aroma but they simply aren’t coming out right now. My motto is rate what is in the glass now but I have a small window of awarding points for potential which I will give this wine. I’ll say it is a cellar dweller.

Personality: I will be the belle of the ball at my coming out party but at that time there will be many eyes on me saying how ravishing I look.

Food match: The wine would be happy to rumble with some steak Florentine and when it matures with some duck breast.

A nice little chunk of beef and this wine would happily co-exist: Photo Robert K. Stephen

Cellarbility: Wait until 2024 to open and watch it improve and hold until 2029.

Price: $21.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Roger Voss 92.

(Portas da Herdade Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Alentejano. Comphania das Quintas, Portugal, 750 mL, 14.5%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 44418).

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 52: Revolt at the Queen Fairy Hospital for Veterans in Montreal

Not far from the idyllic suburb of Hampstead in Montreal one can find the ageing Queen Fairy Hospital for Veterans. Those Quebec soldiers severely injured in conflicts where Canada was fighting were “housed” in the Queen Fairy. Conditions were rather grim with lack of comprehensive physical and psychiatric care. For the past year patients had been complaining about the “stink” of tomato sauce permeating the hospital. It was everywhere they said. It stuck to your clothes and clung to your skin. Due to budget cuts by the Canadian Veteran’s Affairs department the existing kitchen staff were terminated and replaced with cheaper Cuban labour. Cheap they were but skilled they were not. It was hot dogs in tomato sauce over blackened potatoes 4 nights a week accounting for the horrific and ubiquitous tomato stink permeating the hospital air. Lunches were downsized to baloney sandwiches and Kraft Dinner. Fresh fruit was replaced by canned fruit and salads were a thing of the past. Bingo and shuffleboard programmes were canceled. The patient committee sent a strongly worded complaint letter to Pierre Malade the Minister for Veteran’s Affairs in Ottawa. Malade’s response was that the patients were well taken care of. He emphasized Canada would never forget the brave soldiers who “saved democracy” time and time again and if there were any complaints they were manufactured by a bunch of “shell shocked ingratiates”.

Like the Mugless Mental Hospital the inmates rose up in fury setting the hospital on fire and running amok on the hospital grounds. The entire world was shocked to see television footage of half starved and malnourished veterans being beaten by Montreal equestrian police officers. One poor wheelchair bound Korean War was beaten to a bloody pulp. Camera crews managed to enter the kitchen and found out the hot dogs were actually expired “Belgian Hot Dogs” made not with mechanically rendered beef parts but rather with horse meat.

Again Squid, long a friend with these war veterans, asked me to sue the pants off the Canadian government if they did not improve conditions at the Queen Fairy. Legal action was also to be taken against the brutality of the Montreal police force.

RKS 2023 Films: “The Worst Ones” (Les Pires) A French “Bad News Bears” ?

We’ve seen this genre previously. A band of perceived “misfits” somehow transforms into a power to be reckoned with whether it be “Bad News Bears” or even “The Dirty Dozen”.

In this case it is a group of poor youth from the “Picasso Neighbourhood” in Northern France’s Boulogne Sur Mer who are recruited to participate in a film which I believe has the name “Pissing in the North Wind”. These are children who in addition to suffering from poverty come from broken homes, could be considered promiscuous, suffer from autism, and are generally disadvantaged. They are seen by some in the hood as the worst ones that could have been selected for the film. The producers were looking for children who have “difficult lives”. They certainly have found the right group of children ranging in age from 5 -15. The hood fears further stereotyping of Picasso whereas the director is looking for reality. He doesn’t have to look far as it is right under his nose!

“The Worst Ones” is not so much about making a film but about the actual lives of those children with “difficult lives”. And they pull through and deliver fine performances establishing clearly they may have difficult lives but they have pride and ability. More important to us viewers will be the conflict and daily lives these children have and not the film that attempts to portray their lives. The making of the film is nothing but a pretext to examine the state of childhood in France and germane to all countries poverty is a heavy weight around a child’s neck. There is lack of social support in Picasso. There is social media bullying. There is promiscuity and drugs which on closer thought may be not that different for the majority of French children. Whether its Scampia in Naples, Harlem in New York or Jane and Finch in Toronto in “Picasso” there are similarities we shouldn’t forget.

Mallory Wanecque as Lily has a captivating vivacity and acting ability that will propel her far in French cinema. Her acting alone is reason to watch the film. Johan Heldenbergh, portraying Gabriel the film’s director, injects calmness into what could have deteriorated into mayhem. The soundtrack is mostly French rap a welcome change from its mainstream American cousin.

In the Cannes 2022 Film Festival the film won Grand Prix-Un Certain Regard. Opens Friday in New York and March 31 in Los Angeles with a United States national release to follow.

Directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzWHZm5rhKU

RKS 2023 Film Rating 88/100.

RKS Literature: Opinions vs Duty

“I was paying attention you see, but none of it was clear, instead, the more they talked the more confused I got. That’s how it always is. When people talk and about opinions, the result is always confusion. I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter what sort of opinions a man has, but whether he is a decent fellow. The best thing is to have no opinions at all and just do your duty.”

Thomas Mann, “The Magic Mountain”, 1924

RKS Literature: Snow Being More Than One Can Stand!

“And all the guests declared they could not stand to see any more snow, it disgusted them, summer alone had more than satisfied them in that regard, nothing but masses of snow, day in, day out, mounds of snow, whole slopes of snow-it was more than any human being could stand, deadly to both mind and spirit. And they put on sunglasses, tinted green, yellow, or red-to protect their eyes, to be sure, but more to protect their hearts.”

Thomas Mann “The Magic Mountain”, 1924

RKS 2023 Wine: Washington State Syrah from Chateau Ste Michelle

Aroma: Rich blasts of black fruit predominate especially blackberry.

Palate: Rich on the nose rich on the palate. Again blackberry plays the leading role. The finish is of moderate length. Tannins are just above smooth.

Personality: Simply being “rich” and full bodied is not enough. I have identifiable black fruit. In other words I not only have muscles but character too! But honestly I need a bit more complexity. You can easily sip me and while food and wine are the best of bed fellows in my case it is not a must.

Food match: Black bean, organic sweet potato and corn chili offers a bit of sweetness that might match the black fruit of the wine. There is no chili is my chilli!

Cellarbility: Will happily cruise into 2025 and soften just a tad.

Price: $20.95 (Ontario).

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Wine Enthusiast 89.  

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2019 Columbia Valley Syrah, Chateau Ste Michelle, Patterson, Washington, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 949651, 750 mL, 13.5%

“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 51: Revolt at the Mugless Mental Hospital in Montreal

Squid whisked me away from Dorval International Airport in Montreal to downtown Montreal in his silver Studebaker. I took my usual suite at the Ritz-Carlton on Sherbrooke Street. After unpacking we went to Thursdays on Crescent Street for a quick Martini and then to an old favourite Greek restaurant of mine on Park Avenue called “Hesso”. After our grilled Porgy with a side of Vleta (greens) Squid explained the goings on at the Mugless Mental Hospital.

The Mugless was the psychiatric wing of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. The Royal Victoria Hospital was the teaching hospital for McGill medical students. It so happened that the United Mutations discovered McGill University accepted three sizeable donations from an anonymous donor for Mugless Mental Hospital “research”. Very noble and altruistic donor!

A disturbing trend of mysterious deaths by suicide struck the Mugless. There was no rush by public authorities nor the Mugless to investigate this alarming trend but the United Mutations, champions of detainees at psychiatric institutes, lent its ears to a deep throat in the admissions department of the Mugless who revealed the donations were from an American non-profit organization, “The Mental Relief Fund”. It wasn’t long before United Mutations forensic accountants traced the Mental Relief Fund to three high ranking bureaucrats at the CIA. Through investigative reporting the media was on the scent of blood. A mid-level sous chef at the Mugless claimed that he was instructed to put white powder from capsules into the food for specific inmates. Poison? The Royal Canadian Mounted Police ordered autopsies of deceased inmates over the period from when The Mental Relief Fund  made its first donation to the most recent Mugless patient death.

Squid had an inside track to the autopsy reports all of which except for 6 noted the presence of significant amounts of LSD in the tissues of the deceased. The United Mutations made the autopsy finding known to Mugless patients before they were broadcast nationally. Squid explained the result was a multi-day riot at the Mugless. The institute was trashed and all staff fled in fear of their lives. Large groups of inmates boarded buses chartered by the United Mutations and held demonstrations at the US consulate in Montreal and Toronto and the US embassy in Ottawa. Molotov cocktails were thrown which were answered by teargas. Then the petrol hit the fire. A United Mutations sympathizer at the CIA revealed the Mugless was administering LSD to certain inmates in a test to determine if it could be a debilitating chemical warfare weapon! An enormous civil unrest event tore through the streets of Montreal. The Mugless was set ablaze, McDonald’s restaurants were vandalized and American tourists threatened. Montreal was ablaze!

Squid asked if I would co-ordinate bail teams to liberate incarcerated Mugless patients and get to work on launching a class action lawsuit against yet determined defendants.

I agreed despite my inexperience with class action lawsuits and explained such to Squid who simply said he trusted me utterly and completely.