RKS 2025 Wine: Chilean Wine Consistently Good and Affordable: Good-Bye to Made in America Kraft Dinner!

If you are a follower of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s (LCBO) bi-monthly Vintages Catalogue you must have noticed a steady increase in prices in the past two years with wines from Ontario no exception. Chilean prices seem less inclined follow the upward trajectory in price.

We try a P/K/N/T Platinum 2020 from Casa Terra at $20.95 in a very heavy glass bottle so much so you may have to eat a tin of spinach before opening and lifting it and I refer to Popeye the Sailor Man not Popeye Doyle of ” The French Connection”.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% each of Carmenère, Syrah and Malbec.

Aroma: Bright and clear blueberry, raspberry, black cherry and some minute milk chocolate.

Palate: Very grippy tannins here. Highflying blueberry reminding one of homemade blueberry jam as opposed to the jammier over sugared commercial variety. Faintish blackberry. Moderately long finish.

Personality: Like my big heavy bottle I think of myself as having a forceful personality. But being big I can’t say I am powerful or full bodied but rather middle of the road and quite distant from my smooth drinking Cali cousins you may have been drinking before Trump pissed you off to the extent you no longer drink Cali wine by choice not by the fact American wine may have been pulled off the shelves in your country.

Food Match: Best consumed with food. Udon noodles lightly tossed in a bowl with sesame seed oil, chili crisp, soy sauce and canola oil. No more Made in America Kraft Dinner for us Canadians. This noodle dish can be a substitute and takes about the same time to prepare as KD.

Cellarbility: Would 2 years of ageing de-grip the tannins and let the fruit escape?

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 89/100. 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards 95. Natalie MacLean community score 91/100.

(Casa Terra 2020 P/K/N/T Platinum, Maule Valley, Casa Terra, Santiago, Chile, 750 mL 14%).

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary: “The Spoils”: Morality Butts Heads with Legality and Political Games

Morality dictates the conclusion to be drawn from the “looting” of art by the Nazis in World War II is such art should be returned to the heirs of the owners the Nazis “stole” it from.

Legality may dictate otherwise due to the civil law doctrine in Germany (and in common law jurisdictions) a purchaser in good faith holding legal title to that property is entitled to maintain legal title unless the sale was under duress. Can a sale of art by Jews under Nazi threats and harassment be a “sale”?

Canadian documentary “The Spoils” is a study on the “stolen art” of German Jew Max Stern (1904-1987) owner of Galerie Stern in the German city of Düsseldorf whose art was “auctioned off” in 1937 at the “Jew auction house” of Lempertz.

The Nazis’ genocidal agenda included cultural obliteration requiring excising Jews from the art world. Stern was ordered to close his gallery by the Nazi bureaucracy and to raise funds to escape Nazi Germany had to sell his vast art collection at Lempertz.

There are many, restitutionalists, who believe in the concept founded in Holocaust morality, stolen art must be restituted to the heirs of owner of the stolen art. They rely on the legal concept of duress to invalidate the “free will” sale of the original owner. They also rely on genocidally based moral grounds to justify the return of such art.

Another school somewhat antagonistic to the beliefs of the restitutionalists relies on the doctrine of the good faith purchaser of stolen art to justify the passing of legal title to the purchaser. Some claim this school simmers with antisemitism.

Both schools battle it out over a planned Max Stern art exhibit at the Dusseldorf City Museum in 2021 which rose from the ashes of a previously last-minute 2018 cancellation of the exhibit by the mayor of Düsseldorf.

The 2021 exhibit was rejected by the Jewish community of Düsseldorf and restitutionalists as bogus and shoddy. The documentary explains the battle in detail. It is hard to fathom the legitimacy and sincerity of such an event given the facts presented in the documentary.

Archival footage of Nazi rallies and of Goering and Hitler as recipients of some of Stern’s art adds an element of authentic drama to the decimation of Nazi genocide and questions the alleged “authenticity” of sales of art by Jews was free will.

Only 25 paintings in 23 years in the Stern collection have been restituted. 400-500 claims are still pending.

From a feature film perspective both the legality and morality aspects of Nazi stolen art are forcefully probed in the 2015 movie “Woman in Gold” starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds. Both “Woman in Gold” and “The Spoils” should be viewed in tandem.

Here is a clip from “The Spoils” https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12plMh-enLP072dbkTtqCTKr9ElLQWtAH

Directed and written by Jamie Kastner.

Theatrical release commences in Canada on 4April2025.

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary Rating 88/100.

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: CREW 2018 Grand CREW from the Land Beyond

There is some mighty fine wine being produced in the Lake Erie North Shore appellation in Ontario which the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) habitually ignores except for its tokenism in its inventory. Disservice to Ontario vintners and to residents of Ontario. As far as the LCBO treats Lake Erie North Shore it is way out there in the Land Beyond.

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery in Harrow, Ontario has a knack for Cabernet Sauvignon. It was their legendary 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that “spoke to me” that yes Ontario can produce top notch Cabernet Sauvignons but they are difficult to find.

With high hopes may I introduce you to a 2018 Grand CREW Cabernet Sauvignon? You might want to move fast as 110 cases were made.

Aroma: Blueberry, cassis, blackberry with some dark chocolate.

Palate: Firm tannins in this full-bodied wine. Blueberry, red currant, dried sweetened cranberry with a tiny sour cherry twist early in the long finish. Best consumed with food.

Personality: With many Michigonians visiting me at Colchester Ridge Estate Winery and liking me should I visit President Trump as a goodwill ambassador? But if he treats me like he did Zelensky I’m walking out.

Food Match: Grass Fed Black Angus burger.

Cellarbility: Might soften a bit through 2028. 

Price: $40.

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine Rating: 93/100.

(CREW 2018 Grand CREW Cabernet Sauvignon, VQA Lake Erie North Shore, Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, Harrow, Ontario, 750 mL, 14.5%).

RKS CANADIAN Spirits: Seventh Heaven Premium CANADIAN London Dry Gin

The geographic reference to “London” in London Dry Gin does not mean the gin is distilled in London but rather refers to a particular process how London Dry Gin is made. It requires a neutral base spirit to be distilled to at least 96% ABV. No synthetic botanicals can be used. Post distillation water can be added but only a very small amount of sugar.

Seven botanicals are used in Seventh Heaven: Forbidden Fruit, Elderflower, Labrador Tea, Apricot Almonds, Nordic Juniper Berries, Coriander Seeds and Orris Flower Root.

On the plate tight and complex, creamy, spicy with white pepper, charcoal and licorice. Impeccable integration of alcohol with a long finish.

Use in Gin and Tonic or in a Martini and you can’t go off the rails. But enjoy ice cold neat or over ice too in which case 3-year-old Canadian cheddar suits it to a tee.

(Seventh Heaven Premium Canadian London Dry Gin, Seventh Heaven, Montreal, Quebec, 750 mL, 43%, $38 CDN).

RKS Literature: Clean Fat and Skinny Sloppy (Wally Lamb)

“Fat slob this, fat slob that. You hear that all the time. You’re like me: a clean fat. I could tell that right off. Why do you think I let you stay here?….I see it all the time. The dirtiest, sloppiest girls are the skinny ones. Year after year, the same thing. You can tell who the pigs are going to be just by looking at them. You take Jackie Kennedy. Or Jackie whatever her name is now. I bet you in person she’s a very sloppy person. I bet you any amount of money.”

Wally Lamb, “She’s Come Undone”, 1992.

American Border Communities Feeling the Momentum of Canadian Wounding by the Trump Administration

American tourist sites proximate to the Canadian border, whether it be Old Orchard Beach in Maine or northern New York State both of which are proximate to the Quebec-Canadian border, and heavily reliant on Canadian tourism, are feeling the decline both actual and potential in Canadian tourism and face severe challenges in the summer make or break profitable months in attracting Canadian visits despite decades of loyal cadres of Canadian tourists.

The reason?

The weak Canadian dollar with an official rate of 70 cents to the American dollar. Historically a weaker than American dollar, with rare and limited exceptions, has always been the norm.

Erratic threats of punitive tariffs levied against Canada by the Trump administration in violation of existing Canadian-American trade treaties coupled with aggressive derogatory Trumpian comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, about former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau being appointed as the Governor of Canada, about Canada being a nasty trade partner and Canada as the land of the igloo people have raised the ire (to put that mildly) of Canadians. Canadians are generally reserved and polite so imagine them booing the American national anthem at sporting events with American teams visiting Canada is indicative of a deep wounding of the Canadian psyche.

The North Country Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburg, New York expressed its concern about declining Canadian visitation as follows on 27March2025:

Canadian visitors have long been a cornerstone of our local economy. Whether they’re vacationing, shopping, dining, or accessing services, our Quebec friends support businesses of all kinds—not just those in tourism.

Canadian visitation dropped 16% in February, driven by a weak exchange rate, new tariffs, and shifting political perceptions. A recent poll even found that over a quarter of Quebecers now view the U.S. unfavorably, and more than 40% of Canadian group tours have been canceled.

To help, the Adirondack Coast team has developed bilingual signage for use across all types of businesses. Whether you run a store, an office, or a service-based business, we’re asking you to join us in creating a consistent, region-wide message of welcome.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 & 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://bit.ly/4iIiAZM
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: https://bit.ly/42aIG0y


Man With “Men in Tights Syndrome” Subjected to The Nutcracker Protocol Therapy

I recently spoke with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Kainik Zlatco of Zagreb University currently heading an international consortium of behavioral psychiatrists preparing a major study of men suffering from “men in tights syndrome”.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness “men in tights syndrome” (MITS) is defined as follows:

“An irrational fear of men ballet dancers (ballerinos) wearing skintight “dancing pants” accentuating male body parts. Secondary mental infections may be triggered by ballerinos constantly tiptoeing across the stage in pink costuming.”

Dr. Zlatco emphasized MITs should always be distinguished from tight pants syndrome meralgia paresthetica.

Dr. Zlatco remarked this phobia has prevented many men from attending ballet performances depriving them of an art form ultimately reducing cortisol levels and addressing the “flee or flight” at the heart of MITs. Dr. Zlatco stated,” We have tried many types of psychiatric medicines but without measurable success. Anti-depressants have had some limited successes but on the most part have caused severe digestive issues on patients in test settings. we do now at this point cabbage soup is to avoided at all costs.”

Dr. Zlatco explained the causes of MITs are not fully understood but at the root of many cases of MIT is an irrational fear of “emasculation”. For some reason many men are threatened by audience adulation of ballerinos who represent less than perceived manliness. “As usual” the ego of sufferers is “strangled” by mothers.

Dr. Zlatco took a MITS sufferer to a performance of “The Nutcracker” at a Toronto venue last night presented by The Dubious Dance Company. The attendance of the MIT patient was preceded by many taped sessions of ballet performances accompanied by medicinal mushrooms not the kind you make omelets with said Dr. Zlatco.

Dr. Zlatco mused that at the core of MITs is the pure trauma of confronting men in tights so the strategy has been “diversionary” as the more you focus on the spectacle, namely the music and the sets, the more you divert the trauma. Once the brain has been so diverted the next step is have the MITs sufferer focus on the athleticism of the dancers. As a coup de grace we conquer the fear of men in tights by emphasizing those big, rough and hulking brutes playing professional football wear tights!

Dr. Zlatco turned to me after the crowd’s massive round of applause with a rather large smile on his face saying, “A remarkable performance. Fluid and artistically beautiful costumes and choreography. The sets were outstanding. Now can our MITs sufferer be considered cured? This would be a premature conclusion. The real test may be further attendance at subsequent ballet performances where lavish costuming and sets may not be the norm. I may name this “cure” The Nutcracker Protocol.”

The MITs sufferer was last seen leaving the performance hall clutching a Nutcracker and heading to the Toronto Transit Commission subway stop on King Street with a very contented smile on his face.

Should you or anyone you know is suffering from MITs further ballet performances may be required. Check them out at your local ballet company’s website.

Dr. Zlatco is looking for volunteers to participate is his study of “baritone blues” affecting certain audience members at operatic performances.

RKS Literature: Somewhat of a Downward Slide in Life (Wally Lamb)

“Things had gone sharply downhill from the Port Authority bus terminal in New York when a hunchbacked old man had hobbled down the entire aisle, coming to rest with a sigh on the backseat next to me. From New York to Philadelphia, I sat yanking at Ma’s trench coat around me as he blew his nose and nibbled food from an oil spotted paper bag. I spent three hours on the same chapter of Valley of the Dolls, worrying that his garlic breath would seep into the fabric of Ma’s coat-that Kippy would smell his breath and think it was me.”

Wally Lamb, “She’s Come Undone”, 1992.

Vermont Terrorists Vandalize Tesla Dealership in Burlington, Vermont: Spoof News Services: South Hero, Vermont: 28March2025

Spoof has learnt a group of “terrorists” named The Green Mountain Boys attended a Tesla Dealership in Burlington, Vermont pouring Vermont maple syrup and nightcrawler earth over the shiny new Muskmobiles. Some vehicles had “11th Province” scrawled with lipstick on their windshields.

Sources close to Spoof say The Green Mountain Boys are Vermont successionists advocating Vermont becoming the 11th province of Canada.

Raids conducted by the Vermont National Guard at Tudhope’s Marina in North Hero, Vermont, The Alburg Golf and Country Club in Alburg, Vermont and a clandestine “compound” on Butler’s Island on Lake Champlain in the North Hero vicinity resulted in the seizure of 67 cases of Ontario and Quebec craft beer, 430 cans of Tim Horton’s coffee beans, 8 season’s tickets to Toronto Blue Jays baseball games and 43 pounds of peameal bacon. Numerous posters of hockey star Wayne Gretzky were found with an X written over Wayne’s beaming face while cuddling up to Republican politicians reading, “Stay in L.A. where you belong!”

A huge cache of Canadian flags was unearthed on Seagull Island proximate to Butler’s Island.

The Prime Minister of Canada Mike Carnut received an irate call from the White House displeased with yet unverified Canadian support for the “terrorists”. Carnut quipped, “We really really need Vermont as part of our country. The governor of Vermont would make an excellent mayor for our 11th province. We damn well need that Vermont maple syrup and cheddar cheese to make Canada Great Again!”

Just prior to publication rumors swirl in Washington about a trade which would have Alberta become the 51st state while Vermont becomes the 11th province of Canada.

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Peller Estates Private Reserve 2021 Meritage

From the Niagara region in Ontario, Canada we try a Peller Estates Private Reserve 2021 Meritage a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, cassis with a strong black currant swirl.

Palate: The black currant continues to express itself as the predominant influence. Grippy tannins. Short brackish finish.

Personality: Big, tough and a bit rough on the edges like downtown Niagara Falls.

Food Match: A burger from the Flying Saucer Restaurant in Niagara Falls.

Cellarbility: Might continue to develop but don’t risk beyond 2027.

Price: $ 30 CDN.

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine Rating: 91/100. Wine Align Community Score 89.

(Peller Estates Private Reserve Meritage 2021, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake, 750 mL, 13%).