Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir

So far Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot and 2021 Rosso have failed to impress. Incredibly cheap cork that crumbles whilst opening the bottles. Expectations are low for their 2021 Pinot Noir. Aroma: Thank goodness it smells like Pinot Noir. Off to a roaring start but so far aromas of the Merlot and Rosso have beenContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir”

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso: The Great Rosso Mystery!

Unfortunately, there is no indication on the label what grapes are used in this red blend Rosso I purchased at the winery this week. Not only that there is no “Rosso” wine on their website but there is a Rosso Cabernet yet its bottle picture does not say “Rosso Cabernet” but “Rosso”. Let’s assume, ifContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso: The Great Rosso Mystery!”

RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Ontario Merlot Search Continues: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot

Finding great Ontario Cabernet Franc is not that difficult. The same can’t be said for Merlot. Most of the time it is bland. Merlot from Niagara’s Two Sisters and Featherstone Estate are bright beacons for Ontario Merlot. So what about the 2021 Merlot from Riverview Estate Winery? The back label states it has been agedContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Ontario Merlot Search Continues: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot”

RKS 2024 Wine: Blackboard Merlot from Washington State: A Berlin Wall Merlot?

Many Washington State Merlots are not afraid to have a little bath in oak. It gives Merlot a pleasing to everyone aura. I had a Konstantin Frank Merlot in the Finger Lakes recently and it had a good dose of oak in it. My dining companion, no lover of red wine, enthused about how “approachable”Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Blackboard Merlot from Washington State: A Berlin Wall Merlot?”

RKS 2024 Wine: Villa Teresa Organic NV Prosecco

Aroma: Lemon, lime, peach, mango and honey. Palate: A gentle fizz to the point it resembles a semi-sparkler. Some cantaloupe and pineapple but one expects more fruit with a prosecco than this? Its 11% alcohol makes it a refreshing hot summer day quaff. Personality: I am not assertive evidenced by my scant bubbles and acidity.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Villa Teresa Organic NV Prosecco”

RKS 2024 Wine:  Ontario’s Bachelder Bator 2021 Gamay Noir: Bachelder’s Gentle Giant

Aroma: All held in a smoky frame. There is blackberry, black cherry and a bit of sandalwood. Rich, evident, pure and lighthearted. Palate: Gentle and soft but not lacking in taste. Can I say, “Gentle Giant?”.  Replete with raspberry and almost juicy. Broad based tannins. Short finish. Personality: I think I have a bit ofContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine:  Ontario’s Bachelder Bator 2021 Gamay Noir: Bachelder’s Gentle Giant”

RKS 2024 Wine: Louis Aîné & Fils Beaujolais-Villages 2022: Riding on the Zip-Line

A friendly juicy and warm Gamay? Aroma: Raspberry rules but there is black cherry, blackberry. None of that excessive alcohol plaguing so many red wines. Inviting. Palate: Blackberry but more acidity than expected but is fine yet still worrisome as one expects something softer and fruitier from a Burgundian Gamay. Not much fruit on theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Louis Aîné & Fils Beaujolais-Villages 2022: Riding on the Zip-Line”

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: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club

I am in the wine bleachers as a bleacher bum misbehaving and throwing empty wine bottles at poor performers. Luca Maroni is consistently rating most wines as close to perfection. I mean here is a 99 rated red wine. It is no Bordeaux first growth but a Rosso IGT from Puglia. Is it at someContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club”

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”