Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2025 Wine: Intimidated by German Spätburgunder? It’s Pinot Noir!

Strange that there is no mention on the label of this German “Pinot Noir” of its German name Spätburgunder. Fear of intimidating the Canadian market thinking they might be imbibing some bizarre concoction? Aroma: Not one of those dainty Pinot Noirs with delicate raspberry and strawberry instead exhibiting some aggressive and deep black cherry, blueberryContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Intimidated by German Spätburgunder? It’s Pinot Noir!”

RKS 2025 Wine: Montes Alpha 2021 Special Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon

Chile has a leg up when the subject is quality and affordable wine many of which are under $20 CDN. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Carmenére. It has rested 16 months in French oak. Montes Alpha 2021 Special Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon is running in the quality pack! Aroma: Richer than Jeff Bezos. MassiveContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Montes Alpha 2021 Special Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Isle of View from Lake Erie North Shore’s CREW

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, perhaps better known as CREW, crafts a decent Riesling but what about its sparkling version? The label for Isle of View is hardly inspiring but we are always more interested in the contents of a bottle more than its label. A fine seam of bubbles is promising. Aroma: Citrus rules theContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Isle of View from Lake Erie North Shore’s CREW”

RKS 2025 Wine: Moving Beyond the Tyranny of Argentinian Malbec: Bonarda!

The El Enemigo 2021 El Barranco Single Vineyard Bonarda is 85% Bonarda and 15% Cabernet Franc aged for 15 months in old French foudres. Aroma: Huge black and red fruit particularly blueberry and blackberry complimented by blueberry pie and a smidge of dark chocolate. Palate: With such mega fruit is the wine jammy? No spinContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Moving Beyond the Tyranny of Argentinian Malbec: Bonarda!”

RKS 2025 Wine: Janare Q Vino Spumante Brut Falanghina from Italy

Aroma: Green apple, pear, ginger, cinnamon and white peach. Palate: Aggressive bite. A mighty effective palate cleanser. Pear and honeydew melon. Austere. Personality: No so much about the fruit and nothing like you might expect from a Prosecco in that regard. I get the job done so you can start your meal with a scouredContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Janare Q Vino Spumante Brut Falanghina from Italy”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Queen Bee 2023 Niagara Peninsula Rosé

Ontario rosé is nothing to sneeze at. But I fear I will be stung by the heavy Muscat component of this Queen Bee rosé as Muscat can be very tiresome in blended dry white and rosé with a very notable exception being the rosé wines by Vokakis Winery on the Greek Island of Samos. AContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Queen Bee 2023 Niagara Peninsula Rosé”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Palatine Hills 2023 Viognier

Viognier is a rare grape in Ontario! So with great interest Viognier from Palatine Hills. Aroma: Apricot, peach, Seville marmalade, mango and talcum powder. Palate: Guava, banana and Orri tangerine. Firm. Dry. Big mouthfeel. Long finish. Personality: Don’t be timid about giving me a try. You will not find much of me as a singleContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Palatine Hills 2023 Viognier”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Adamo’s 2021 Bistro Wine

Adamo’s 2021 Bistro red wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 27.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.9% Merlot, 4.6% Malbec and 2.3% Petit Verdot. The grapes were purchased in the Niagara Peninsula region of Ontario. 20% of the wine was aged in oak. 920 cases made. What is a bistro wine? Simple French food such asContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Adamo’s 2021 Bistro Wine”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Henry of Pelham 2023 Lost Boys Baco Noir: Not a Wine for Cider House Rules Orphanage: Confessions of a Turkey Gravy Man!

Baco Noir is a French Hybrid grape produced in 1894 and planted in days of yore in Ontario and the Eastern United States. Perhaps a low life or roustabout grape for the unsophisticated decades ago? A “90 Day Fiancé” or a” Below the Deck” type of grape? Like South African Pinotage it can be dreadfulContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Henry of Pelham 2023 Lost Boys Baco Noir: Not a Wine for Cider House Rules Orphanage: Confessions of a Turkey Gravy Man!”

RKS 2025 Wine: The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Embarrasses Itself Yet Again

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) everyone’s favourite liquor monopoly has soiled itself yet again. It mouths a rah rah rah for Ontario wines but rarely delivers except for the wines of Niagara but even there…. In the 13September2025 Vintages Release catalogue the cover of the catalogue trumpets “We’re All In On Ontario”. TheContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Embarrasses Itself Yet Again”