Approachable, friendly and easy drinking are the monikers of Valpolicella. Monikers of course are made to be broken, ignored or tampered with. 45% Corvina. 30% Corvione. 20% Rondinella. Aged 12-18 months in large oak barrels. We take this statement to the test with a 2021 Sartori Valpolicella. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, plum, raspberry and milkContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely a Stinker”
Category Archives: Food
RKS 2024 Wine: Château Calet Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
Blaye is where affordability and quality can happily co-exist. Aroma: Blackberry, blueberry, chocolate and licorice. Palate: The long finish is the first factor that meets your palate. Gentle tannins. Some chalkiness. Where’s the fruit? Personality: I am about as exciting as a day-old baguette. Food Match: Scrambled eggs with grilled tomatoes and Mennonite summer sausageContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Château Calet Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux”
RKS 2024 Wine: Château Saint Cyrgues from Costières de Nîmes
The wine is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Marselan which is cross between Grenache and Syrah. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry with some raspberry and licorice. Palate: Moderate and broad-based tannins. A bit gravelly but even given that it is smooth with a bit of a peppery finish. The acids hover inContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Château Saint Cyrgues from Costières de Nîmes”
RKS 2024 Wine: A Sicilian Grillo-Chardonnay
Think Grillo then think Sicilian power. With Sicilian Chardonnays cool climate Chardonnays are left behind. It is a 50/50 blend. Aroma: Concentrated notes of pear, apple, mango, pineapple, peaches, quince, honey and a slight briny note. Palate: Full bodied medium dry wine with a long finish. Slight floral tinge with heavier notes of pear, applesauce,Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Sicilian Grillo-Chardonnay”
RKS 2024 Wine: Susana Balbo Rarely Gets Her Malbec Wrong
We try a Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec. 96% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. From grapes grown at 1150 meters and aged for 13 months in French oak. Aroma: This wine, verging on purplish, flashes its blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and lavender soul in a smoky frame. Classic lush and plush Malbec. Palate: Smooth andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Susana Balbo Rarely Gets Her Malbec Wrong”
RKS 2024 Wine: Monte Zovo Caligo Veronese 2018
This red wine is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Aroma: Red cherry, cranberry and raspberry. Palate: Relatively light and dry with low tannins making it an attractive sipper. Strawberry, raspberry jam and cactus pear. Moderately long finish. Personality: I am easy going but not a push over. A mere IGT you say butContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Monte Zovo Caligo Veronese 2018”
RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
There are 11 Finger Lakes in New York all narrow enough to be reminiscent of fingers. Cayuga Lake is one of the lakes. For many wine drinkers in the United States and Canada accessibility to Finger Lake wine is minimal. The Finger Lakes are easily accessible by road. The trip would be 5 hours fromContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail”
RKS 2024 Wine: Quinta Do Espírito Santo from Lisboa
I rated the 2018 vintage an 87. How about this 2020? Aroma: A torrent of blackberry with some blueberry, black cherry and some dark chocolate identical descriptors I used for the 2018. Palate: The blackberry in this wine just won’t leave you alone! Blueberry too. A medium length finish. It handles its 15% alcohol wellContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Quinta Do Espírito Santo from Lisboa”
RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone’s Canadian Cabernet Franc
Not willing to speak in absolutes but chances are a Cabernet Franc from Ontario seldom steers you off the cliff but don’t let me be your GPS on this! We try a Featherstone 2020 Cabernet Franc from Ontario’s Niagara region. 2129 cases mean an ample supply for domestic consumption.5% Merlot in the blend. Aged inContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone’s Canadian Cabernet Franc”
RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone 2023 Rosé from Niagara Peninsula
Always excellent. Drinkable all year round straight up or with food. Time to try their 2023 vintage. A blend of Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Aroma: Fully ripe raspberry, strawberry and Thames River Farms sugar babe watermelon. This rosé is what you might call fruit expressive! Palate: Smooth with some raspiness on the backContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone 2023 Rosé from Niagara Peninsula”
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