Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2024 Wine: Château des Landes from Lussac Saint-Émilion

100% Merlot from 50-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in new French oak. The British wine writer Jancis Robinson wrote in February 2023 should 2019 in Bordeaux be seen as the best vintage ever? Aroma: Subdued and compact with blackberry, black cherry and some vanilla. A skillful use of new French oak as it does not shoutContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Château des Landes from Lussac Saint-Émilion”

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: A Shiraz/Cab Sauvignon Disaster from Australia’s Limestone Coast or Siberia? A Disgrace to Australian Wine and the Liquor Commission Board of Ontario

Aroma: Upon opening the wine it stinks of oak. Not fatal if with aeration it dissipates but not the mark of an exceptional wine. Some 20 minutes later the stink has diminished to simply far too much oak. Heck but if you like oaked wine is there a chance? Putting the oak aside or turningContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Shiraz/Cab Sauvignon Disaster from Australia’s Limestone Coast or Siberia? A Disgrace to Australian Wine and the Liquor Commission Board of Ontario”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Côtes Du Roussillon; Splendiferous Humility

From Southern France we try an Arnaud de Villeneuve 2022 Côtes du Roussillon. It is a blend of 65% Grenache Noir and 35% Syrah. Aroma: Disciplined in the sense it is content in the glass without having to shout out to your nose and slap it silly with excessive alcohol. Black cherry, blackberry, steroidal raspberryContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Côtes Du Roussillon; Splendiferous Humility”

RKS 2024 Wine: Au Revoir to South African Funkiness? Brainwashed or Cured?

My first wine show a few years ago was the New York Wine Expo at the Javitz Convention Center. It was something to be excited about. After focusing on Brazilian wines near the end of my few hours there I headed for the exit but being the dedicated newbie, I decided to breeze through theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Au Revoir to South African Funkiness? Brainwashed or Cured?”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Wine from Langhe Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in Piedmonte

We try a Ellena Nebbiolo from the Langhe region of Piedmonte recognized by UNESCO in 2014 as a World Heritage Site. Aroma: A plenitude of red cherry perhaps even faint notes of raspberry and strawberry complimented by milk chocolate. Palate: The aroma may suggest a lighter red perhaps even a cheery light weight. However, aContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Wine from Langhe Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in Piedmonte”

RKS 2024 Wine: Rasteau Man Vibrations!

From France we try a Lavau Rasteau. If it had been a Jamaican wine it would have been called “Rasteau Man Vibrations”! Rasteau is a Southern Rhône variation and principally made  with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. In this case 50% each of Syrah and Grenache. Aroma: Well contained aroma of blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry inContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Rasteau Man Vibrations!”

RKS 2024 Wine: Izadi 2019 Reserva Rioja

100% Tempranillo. Aroma: Warm and effusive black cherry and lots of it! Secondary notes of blackberry. Tertiary notes of milk chocolate. Palate: Cherry, blackberry with some raspberry and black licorice. Some chalky tannins. Full mouth feel. Easy drinking but a wee bit hot. Too bad the alcohol is up at 14%. Personality: I am aContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Izadi 2019 Reserva Rioja”

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: An Argentinian Red Blend from the End of the World

Odds are if you are at the end of the world conditions could be such one cares more about surviving than drinking an excellent wine? I have been to the end of the world in Portugal but not in Argentinian Patagonia. In a fancy, possibly gimmicky and monstrously heavy bottle, we have a blend ofContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: An Argentinian Red Blend from the End of the World”