Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2024 Wine: Famille Perrin 2023 Tavel: Bardot or Twiggy?

As far a rosé goes the darker the pink the happier I am. Those wimpy pale rosés strike me with their acidity and thinness. By way of a bad analogy would you prefer to date Brigitte Bardot or Twiggy? Aroma: Loads of raspberry with strawberry, red cherry, wet stone and a tiny bit of cottonContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Famille Perrin 2023 Tavel: Bardot or Twiggy?”

RKS 2024 Wine: Some Higher End Bordeaux: Château Clarke 2016

There is an ample supply at Vintages (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) of red Bordeaux under $25. Are they so much inferior to a Château Clarke 2016 from Baron Edmond de Rothschild at $55? This wine is a blend of 70 % Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aroma:  A forceful and dense nose of plum,Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Some Higher End Bordeaux: Château Clarke 2016”

RKS 2024 Wine: A High-Risk Endeavour from Riverview Estate Winery: Baco Noir and Foch Blend!

Ontario Baco Noir flops more often than not. It has flopped many times in my glass but when managed in the vineyard and in the vat it can make exceptional Baco Noir e.g. Henry of Pelham. And Foch ripped out aplenty years ago can make some exceptional wine e.g. Malivoire. 54% Maréchal Foch and 46%Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A High-Risk Endeavour from Riverview Estate Winery: Baco Noir and Foch Blend!”

PORTHEAD ALERT!  Kopke 2018 LBV

Late Bottle Vintage Port (LBV) is an affordable Port that can age well but certainly not as well as Vintage Port. For example the oldest Vintage Port I  have had was an 1867 and it still had life. The 1932 Vintage Port likewise. How about the 2018 LBV from Kopke? Aroma:  If there is oneContinue reading “PORTHEAD ALERT!  Kopke 2018 LBV”

RKS 2024 Wine: Portuguese Wines: The Way of the Dinosaur in Ontario

Over the course of 2024 a question has arisen and that is where Portuguese wines have migrated to as very few are heading into Ontario. Vintages releases of Portuguese wines at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) have disappeared while Spanish wines “flourish” as such a term must be interpreted in the LCBO crazeContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Portuguese Wines: The Way of the Dinosaur in Ontario”

RKS 2024 Wine: Giersberger Crémant d’Alsace

Made with 80% Pinot Gris and 20% Auxerrois. While Pinot Gris is a permitted grape for Champagne Auxerrois is not. Aroma: Pear, applesauce, Granny Smith apple, mango and peach. Palate: Crisp and cutting. Granny Smith apple, kiwi, ginger with a hint of bitterness. Personality: I can’t say I am elegant as I may come onContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Giersberger Crémant d’Alsace”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Casa-Dea Rosé from the County

In Ontario when we speak of wine from “The County” we mean Prince Edward County. It is approximately two hours drive from Toronto when the traffic is good which it rarely is. There are over 40 wineries in The County which is the land of second homes of the bourgeoisie of Toronto. But is alsoContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Casa-Dea Rosé from the County”

RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!

I encountered this Riesling sitting on a beautiful Great Gatsby deck in Aurora, New York overlooking sunny Cayuga Lake two weeks ago. I brought back two bottles to Toronto. A magical setting and a magical wine I thought or was it just the vista and a beautiful June afternoon? No way! The wine may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!”

RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2021 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger from Cayuga Lake, New York

Cabernet Franc is a very successful grape in Ontario, perhaps its strongest red grape. Lemberger is somewhat of an unknown. I have yet to see Lemberger wine grown and sold as wine in Ontario. But there is plenty of it in the Finger Lakes. Hosmer has decided to blend Cabernet Franc with Lemberger. Fifty percentContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2021 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger from Cayuga Lake, New York”

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”