As a single varietal in Ontario Syrah struggles. At $35 you move into premium priced Syrah for Ontario. Aroma: Solid and ripe red cherry down to its core. Secondary notes of strawberry and raspberry. Tertiary notes of streaky bacon. Palate: Delicate tannins. Gentleness of red cherry and cherry liqueur. Perhaps too gentle and faded. SyrahContinue reading “RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Can a Premium Priced Niagara Syrah Deliver?: Kacaba 2021 Terraced Vineyard Syrah”
Category Archives: Wine
RKS 2026 CANADIAN WINE: Oxley 2021 Syrah from Lake Erie North Shore
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s 11April2026 Vintages catalogue describing this wine states, “Syrah is challenging to grow in Ontario, flourishing in only a select few ideal climates.” Very true. Aroma: Black fruit predominates primarily black currant and blackberry. Root beer. A certain smokiness. Palate: Tart red cherry. Lacking in richness. Mild tannins and acidsContinue reading “RKS 2026 CANADIAN WINE: Oxley 2021 Syrah from Lake Erie North Shore”
RKS 2026 PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WINES: Longyu Estate 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
What do we hear about China and its wines? That they know little about wine. That they are obsessed with prestige and mix enormously expensive first growth Bordeaux with Coca-Cola. I suspect this may be hogwash but until in China touring their wineries what do I know? As a lawyer I know hearsay evidence isContinue reading “RKS 2026 PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WINES: Longyu Estate 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon”
RKS 2026 EURO WINE: A Cabernet Sauvignon from the Ukraine on the Wine Critic Police Line Up
Aroma: Blackberry, cherry and black currant. Palate: Cherry nectar, pepper, diffuse blackberry, chalky cherry and limp wristed licorice. Lacklustre finish. Moderate tannins and controlled acidity. Short finish. Personality: There can be many faces of Cabernet Sauvignon, but this wine does not seem to be one of those faces I recognize but where a wine isContinue reading “RKS 2026 EURO WINE: A Cabernet Sauvignon from the Ukraine on the Wine Critic Police Line Up”
RKS WINES OF PORTUGAL: Lagar da Ravasqueira from Alentejano
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet and Syrah. Spent 8 months in American oak barrels. Aroma: I am soon to watch James Dean’s last movie released in 1955, “Giant”. Speaking about giant there is giant blackberry in this. Secondary notes of blueberry and dark chocolate. Palate: On the juicy side withContinue reading “RKS WINES OF PORTUGAL: Lagar da Ravasqueira from Alentejano”
RKS 2026 EURO Wine: Château Le Cap 2022 From Bordeaux: Operation Epic Fury Blackberry and Black Cherry
Aroma: It murmurs black fruit. Nothing ostentatious or flashy but then not playing hard to get. It is there. Buried in the core but not so deep a Trump Bunker Buster can’t obliterate it! In addition to the Operation Epic Fury blackberry and black cherry some licorice and vanilla. Palate: Moderately tannic. Acids are outContinue reading “RKS 2026 EURO Wine: Château Le Cap 2022 From Bordeaux: Operation Epic Fury Blackberry and Black Cherry”
RKS Literature: Wine the Path to Hell (Yoshida Kenkō)
“Wine has been called the ‘greatest of medicines’, but in fact all sickness springs from it. It is claimed you forget your sorrows in drink, but from what I can see, men in their cups will in fact weep to recall their past unhappiness. As for the next world-having lost the wisdom you were bornContinue reading “RKS Literature: Wine the Path to Hell (Yoshida Kenkō)”
RKS 2026 Ontario Wine: Cave Spring 2024 Estate Grown Cabernet Franc from Niagara
Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, raspberry with a pinch of strawberry jam. Very tight and high perimeter security encompass the fruit. A young wine with potential. Very clean and pristine. Palate: Broad and assertive tannins. Tight and secretive as the wine has not even reached puberty. Raw power. Cellarbility: I would boldly go where many aContinue reading “RKS 2026 Ontario Wine: Cave Spring 2024 Estate Grown Cabernet Franc from Niagara”
RKS 2026 ONTARIO Wine: leaning post’s Cuvée Winona from Niagara, Ontario
80% Merlot. 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 680 cases were produced. Aroma: Plummy. Red cherry. Raspberry. Strawberry. Rhubarb. Palate: Merlotish (if such a word exists). Smoky and lush. Bring on Sammy Davis and Peter Lawford at The Sands in a smoky bar (such bars no longer exist). Loads of red cherry. Mid weight.Continue reading “RKS 2026 ONTARIO Wine: leaning post’s Cuvée Winona from Niagara, Ontario”
RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Yes We Have Gamay in Canada! leaning post Gamay From Niagara, Ontario
There is more to Niagara Falls than water! There are many wineries in and around Niagara Falls. There are numerous historical sights. There are a plethora of dining options. What a shame the Canadian government and local tourist promotional bodies are limping behind the surge in wine tourism. One the first wineries I encounter onContinue reading “RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Yes We Have Gamay in Canada! leaning post Gamay From Niagara, Ontario”
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