RKS Wines: Niepoort 10 Years Old Tawny Port

If Late Bottled Vintage Port and Vintage Port are the lions in the Port den Tawny Port is the gazelle elegantly leaping in the tall grasses of the savannah.

Aged Tawnies are blends of Ports from several years which are then kept for long periods of time in the barrel. Think of an aged Tawny as finesse and an LBV and Vintage Ports as pure power. While a Vintage Port can be purple in colour Tawnies can have an orange brickish colour. In terms of alcohol they are just about the same as LBV’s and Vintage Ports. Generally speaking it is fair so say they mellow out with age and they suit chocolate desserts, nuts and egg-based desserts like flan or a Molotov.

This Niepoort is transparent in colour and is orange and garnet in colour. On the nose caramel, Christmas cake, burnt orange, overripe strawberry and Grand Marnier. There is a certain marriage of fruit and brandy. Brandy is added to stop the fermentation of the wine making it sweeter than fully fermented table wine.

On the palate there is a bit of a burn but in no way unpleasant and at 19.5% to be expected. Well integrated notes of marmalade galette, orange spice cake, Portuguese roasted almonds and overall a dominance of orange as fruit. There is a bit of a nutty finish. The finish is very long as with most Ports but wanders a bit and lacks precision

Consider this as an introduction to an aged Tawny. A 40-year-old Tawny will be mellower on the palate and complex too. This 10-year-old is playing with our palate and inviting us to up the age.

(Niepoort 10 Years Old Tawny Port, Niepoort, Villa Nova de Gaia, $48.30, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 699727, 750 ml, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).

RKS Wine: Wine from the Outer Limits: Bulgarian Mavrud

Mavrud is mainly found in Bulgaria making tannic wines that take well to ageing. The wines are said to have character but little elegance.

But what the heck! Escape the rabbit hole of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Gamay, Pinot Noir and the usual red wine suspects and jump into Groundhog Day with a Mavrud.

Way back in the day I spent a month in Bulgaria. Great people living unhappily under the yoke of Communism. Line ups for food. No shower in my bathroom at a low-end hostel so it was off to a public bath house for the proletarian and not the LGBTQ community. I must have been a strange character with a ponytail particularly if you arrived in Bulgaria by land the border guard would shave your head like you were joining the Marines! Stop that Western decadence and corruption. Yes I had many a people stare at me with my long hair and Romanian shepherd vest. But they were all good and hospitable people perhaps because my presence was a quasi celebrity one. Outside the capital city of Sofia I was an object of disbelief and viewed like an alien.

I arrived in Sofia from Athens on a Balkanair flight. Refreshments were sparkling water and a quasi edible sandwich served Alcatraz style but customs were so awed by the spectacle they saw I escaped without a haircut!

On the nose there is some black cherry and it is indeed charming mixed with chocolate, blackberry, pomegranate, blueberry waffles and cassis. The nose reminds me of a Tawny Port in a straight jacket but there is none of the neutral spirit sweet heft to it. The tannins are moderate. On the palate a very earthy wine but concentrate hard enough there is some fruit lurking on the fringes mostly blackberry and some juicy cherry. Generally speaking an unimpressive finish. However the lurking fruit and moderate tannins hint that the wine might mature over the next few years.

Quite frankly readers often organic wine has a certain purity and vibrancy to it. Sorry to say this wine tastes like it was from grapes grown in overworked and lifeless soil.

No the wine isn’t going to bite you and will suit, as they politely say, a Friday night dinner of pasta, wings or burgers.

I say bring on the Bulgarians! They have been making wine for centuries so there must be some gems out there still in Bulgaria as the Iron Curtain fell decades ago and there has been time for wine to escape the Politburo’s 5 year economic plan as a commodity.

(Zagreus Reserve Mavrud 2018, Zagreus AD, Parvomay, Bulgaria, (organic), $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 21275, 750 mL, 14%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 87/100).

Research paper A naturalistic examination of the perceived effects of cannabis on negative affect (Journal of Affective Disorders) (1August2018)

Author links open overlay panelCarrieCuttlerabAlexanderSpradlinaRyan J.McLaughlinabcShow moreAdd to MendeleyShareCitehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.054Get rights and contentUnder a Creative Commons licenseopen access

Highlights

•

Cannabis significantly reduced ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress.•

Women reported larger reductions in anxiety as a function of cannabis than did men.•

Low THC/high CBD cannabis was best for reducing perceived symptoms of depression.•

High THC/high CBD cannabis was best for reducing perceived symptoms of stress.•

Use of cannabis to treat depression appears to exacerbate depression over time.

Abstract

Background

Cannabis is commonly used to alleviate symptoms of negative affect. However, a paucity of research has examined the acute effects of cannabis on negative affect in everyday life. The current study provides a naturalistic account of perceived changes in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress as a function of dose and concentration of Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Method

Data from the app StrainprintTM (which provides medical cannabis users a means of tracking changes in symptoms as a function of different doses and chemotypes of cannabis) were analyzed using multilevel modeling. In total, 11,953 tracked sessions were analyzed (3,151 for depression, 5,085 for anxiety, and 3,717 for stress).

Results

Medical cannabis users perceived a 50% reduction in depression and a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use. Two puffs were sufficient to reduce ratings of depression and anxiety, while 10+ puffs produced the greatest perceived reductions in stress. High CBD (>9.5%)/low THC (<5.5%) cannabis was associated with the largest changes in depression ratings, while high CBD (>11%)/high THC (>26.5%) cannabis produced the largest perceived changes in stress. No changes in the perceived efficacy of cannabis were detected across time. However, baseline symptoms of depression (but not anxiety or stress) appeared to be exacerbated across time/tracked sessions.

Limitations

The primary limitations are the self-selected nature of the sample and the inability to control for expectancy effects.

Conclusions

Cannabis reduces perceived symptoms of negative affect in the short-term, but continued use may exacerbate baseline symptoms of depression over time.

RKS Films: Canadian 2021 European Union Film Festival: Antonio Variações-Guardian Angel

This 2019 Portuguese film chronicles the brief but massively influential musical career of singer Antonio Variações who died of AIDS related complications in 1984 but his music is still loved by the Portuguese.

As a young boy he listened to the soulful traditional music of Portugal and I don’t mean American soul music but music from the heart and soul that influenced his unique vocal talents whether it be pop, rock, punk or folk all of it is deeply soulful. Why not think of the film a sort of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Variações had the uncanny ability to appeal to a wide range of ages that perhaps Freddy Mercury never could command.

Variações was a barber with an eccentric dress style who never really strayed from the influence of his inspiration Amália Rodrigues and listen to one of her songs near the end of the film and you’ll immediately understand the soulfulness of her music and how it influenced Variações.

You can see the trailer here https://watch.eventive.org/euff2021/play/61535210b053a1004cb38e4d?m=1

The film was directed by Joäo Maia. Sérgio Praia portrays Variações convincingly.

The film plays between November 28-30 virtually. You can check out the Festival’s website at https://www.euffonline.ca/welcome

The film can only be accessed for the Festival in Canada.

RKS Wine: Graham’s Late Bottled 2015 Vintage Port

Why is it that I have never had a corked Port or one that has suffered from volatile acidity? It may lie with the IDVP the body that regulates Douro wines. The quality control process is rigid and thorough and I have seen these people evaluating and tasting Ports and wines with an incredible thoroughness in a quality control laboratory. Or could it be the producers themselves fearing a no go from the IDVP? Whatever it is I have yet to encounter a faulty Port or Douro wine in the 12 years I have been tasting Douro wine and Ports.

So what about the Graham’s 2015 LBV Port? Graham’s has been producing Port for over 200 years. Obviously, they have a bit of experience under their belts. LBV’s come from a single vintage and are aged in the barrel for 4-6 years before being bottled. LBV’s are of outstanding quality but not as lush or decadent as Vintage Ports. But they are more affordable and for the casual drinker of Port the difference between an LBV and a Vintage Port is razor thin. For this razor edge an LBV can cost under $25 but a Vintage Port can cost you in the three figures. But Vintage Ports can last forever. I have had an 1867 Vintage Port and it still had many years left to it. Vintage Ports may be for your grandchildren but LBV’s are for you now! LBV’s may be the best for the here and now. Vintage Ports that I have are for the next generation and they are so marked in my cellar.

Four estates were used to source the grapes for this LBV. It should be served at 16-18 degrees and a chill will reduce the alcohol on the palate and necessary to balance the acidity with the sweetness. It pairs very well with chocolate and old blue cheese and matches game well.

A nose of dense blueberry, black cherry and cassis. On the palate at 20% if properly chilled is unnoticeable. A wickedly delicious combination of blueberry pie and chocolate covered cherries. I may be on the outside of Port combinations and say this would suit duck, Portuguese ox or Canadian beef.

As a French marketer I met on my first Port Wine Day in Porto said Port is luxury at a discount price. Such truer words have remained with me and just try this LBV and you’ll be convinced. Don’t be deterred by the snobby and incorrect notion this Port is for old British men sitting in a London club. It is here and now and absolutely brilliant. If this LBV doesn’t win you over I’ll eat my shirt. And at $16.25 I am stunned as they are giving away the crown jewels.

(Graham’s 2015 Late Bottled Vintage Port, Symington Family Estates, Villa Nova d. Gaia, Portugal, $ 16.25, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 191239, 750 mL, 20%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating, 94/100).

“My Life as a Golf Marshall” : Final Final Last Thoughts! Golf as Ballet

I just recalled a few wonderful experiences I had on the golf course that I think only a Marshall can relate to. It struck me early in the summer halfway into my shift. The golf course was crowded but everything was running absolutely perfectly. Everyone spaced out like a golf Marshall’s dream. No gaps. No laggards. It was a beautiful form of ballet perhaps only understood by a golf Marshall. A rare occurrence. Almost a fantasy. To the golfers participating in this ballet a smooth well paced game but to the Marshall with an overall picture a masterpiece of synchronicity that took me through some terrible Sundays where it felt like a loss of control and meltdown that only God could fix as it was too overwhelming for a human to deal with.

Have a good winter and if you have any space in your private jet take me somewhere warm with a low COVID rate. With my mindfulness strategy I’ll take ten strokes off your score! Wine consulting included!

Actually coming up withdrawal therapy for Golf Marshalls……..

What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

The five major types of anxiety disorders are:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
    Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called “rituals,” however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
  • Panic Disorder
    Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
  • Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
    Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation – such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others – or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.

(National Institutes of Mental Health)

“My Life as a Golf Marshall” : Time to Say Good-Bye

What a miserable last couple of days. Yesterday 4 hours of bone chilling weather at 5 degrees but add on the wind chill I was shivering after hour three and suffering a bad windburn. I mean it looked like I’d spent too long at the beach in Cancun!

Then this morning I think that weather gave rise to a mild cold. Stuffy nose and a bit of a sore throat. And today I decided to call in to determine if they required my services. The answer was no. Its pouring rain and maybe even some snow mixed in. So I am glad the elements will not batter me but I wanted to say a good-bye to the golf course I worked two days each week and played golf two days in that week. I have worked through hail, sleet and nasty humidity that left you drenched in sweat at 10:30 a.m. I have seen coyotes, foxes, rabbits, deer and a whole lot of very poor golfers.

So what are my parting thoughts?

  • Would I do it again? My shifts were the “shit shifts” given to the new guy. Saturday morning was not that bad as the better golfers are out early. Sunday afternoon you hold your breath and hope for the best. Newbies, children and the drinkers. Try and go out on Saturday night after getting up to Marshall at 6 a.m.
  • Most golfers are good people. Golfers would not be out on the course unless they loved the game. That is what unites us. They are mostly polite and like to talk about golf and if I ask them to speed it up most will apologize and help the pace quicken. There are dickheads and racists out there that tell you explicitly and implicitly to fuck off. Then there are the painfully slow golfers making far too many practice swings, walking too slowly and waiting for others to hit. I used to call them selfish and rude but their appalling slow play I think is more a question of any mandatory etiquette courses not in place.
  • Golf is twisted game. Almost all golfers suffer from good day bad day syndrome. You are hot one day and pathetic the next. The mindful golfer accepts the bad days and the good days as inevitable and laughs about their erratic game. Too much thinking about that last bad shot or the awful game you are in the midst of ruins your mindset. Yes before I took a mindful approach I recall leaving the course either angry or upset. It’s simply not worth it. Move on and appreciate the camaraderie and beautiful settings.
  • I have become an extrovert. I am naturally an introvert and there is nothing wrong with that despite society seeming to value extroverts. Dale Carnegie wanabees. I find I am not shy approaching golfers and starting a brief conversation and giving advice when asked for.
  • Was I a good Marshall? At my golf course no one sits down and gives you a performance review. If I had done a bad job I would have been told or fired. Any compliments or negative vibes come from golfers. I have received many appreciative comments but no negative ones although some frustration about the pace may be directed my way.
  • Pace is king! Golfers want a quick game. That is me too. I play ready golf. One practice swing and not tortuous set ups for a shot. No practice putt swings either. It could be my Scottish heritage but I play Scotch golf. If there is any “management pressure” on a Marshall it is keep the round at 4:20. That’s a Marshall’s job and you have to be polite. No arguing just gentle persuasion.
  • A sense of humour is sometimes worth its weight in gold! A little trick I use is to give golf balls my Marshall blessing. It gets a good chuckle and even requests to bless sleeves of golf balls. I feel a bit like the Pope. And giving out candies on Halloween paid for out of my own budget.
  • Unlike Rodney Dangerfield I get respect. Respect is a two-way street. You have to earn it as a Marshall and the best way is find the laggards and get them sped up and go back to golfers behind them and letting them know you have asked for a “speed up”. They appreciate that and respect you because this shows you care about them. I suppose you can call this good service.
  • I am not the traditional grumpy old man Marshall. In all my years of playing golf my view of the Marshalls are that they are grumpy old men hiding behind the bushes and never engaging in conversation. They remind me of spies. If your only interaction with a Marshall is to be told to speed up what relationship can you have with the invisible man.
  • The compensation is miserable. At least I am getting paid half in cash and half in golf. Sneaky accounting indeed. However many Marshalls volunteer in exchange for free golf. However we all know very few things are free. Time for unionization.

Well I suppose its time to hibernate, Well not exactly as “Golf Cart Buddha” is coming your way focusing on mindfulness in golf as I am certified in mindfulness by the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. We will offer mindfulness training, yoga and meditation on course. Golf Marshall training and etiquette courses will be available. International and corporate sessions can be available. Food and beverage consulting as well. Franchise opportunities will be available.

Health Canada authorizes the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot

From: Health Canada

Statement

November 9, 2021 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

Health Canada has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot.

A COVID-19 booster shot is an extra dose of the vaccine given after completion of the primary vaccine series. The booster shot is designed to help people maintain their protection against COVID-19 over time.

Health Canada received Pfizer’s submission to approve a booster on October 1, 2021. After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine booster shot meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

The booster is authorized for adults 18 years of age and older, to be used at least six months after an individual has completed their primary vaccine series. The Comirnaty COVID-19 booster is a full dose of the regular vaccine (30 mcg).

Evidence continues to show that being fully vaccinated provides strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, including against the Delta variants.

People in Canada should consult their local public health guidance, informed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, for details on which individuals or groups of people are recommended to receive a booster dose at this time.

For information on authorized vaccines and treatments in Canada, visit the COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal.

RKS Wine: Portugal’s Quinta da Rede: “The Douro Got Talent”

Can we expect yet another solid red wine from Portugal’s Douro Valley? Based on their track record with me over the years I am nodding my head up and down.

We try a Quinta da Rede 2017 Reserva. The nose shouts out “full bodied”! Rich black cherry, blackberry, blueberry at times touched with a floral tinge. If a proper descriptive term to describe an aroma is “creamy” I will say that this fits the bill.

On the palate there are creeping tannins that aren’t instantaneously noticeable. Great purity of black fruit with a moderately long finish. On the upper end of elegance whereas it could very well have been brutish. To paraphrase an awful American television show we should say the “Douro Has Got Talent” except there are only highly polished professionals participating in this wine show!

Give me this wine with a traditional Douro Duck Casserole or just about any duck like “Duck in a Can” from Montreal’s “Au Pied de Cochon”. Although I eat very little meat I may have this with a rare Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding on New Year’s Day.

While the wine is drinking beautifully now I can see it becoming more elegant in 3 years. A blend of indigenous Tinta Roriz, Tinta Franca and Touriga Nacional. The wine has been skillfully aged in French oak for 8 months.

(Quinta da Rede 2017 Reserva, Douro DOC, Quinta da Rede, Santa Cristina, Portugal, $18.95, 750 mL, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 431742, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 92/100).