Of late I have encountered dismal Pinot Noirs, primarily and surprisingly from New Zealand suffering from excess oak. Canadian Pinot Noirs perform top rate in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Niagara Pinot Noirs are hit and miss. How about Pinot Noirs from the land of the lawyers, judges and well-heeled Torontonians cozying up at swank hotelsContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Canadians to the Pinot Noir Rescue?”
Category Archives: Wine
RKS 2024 Wine: Puente Austral Reserva Privada 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile
The wine is from the Colchagua Valley in Chile which has evolved in the last 15 years from a quiet stretch of farmland into one of Chile’s largest and most active wine-producing wine regions. The relatively low elevation of the coastal hills allows the Pacific breezes to interplay with the Andean winds extending the region’sContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Puente Austral Reserva Privada 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile”
RKS 2024 Wine: A Failed Recovery Attempt from a New Zealand Pinot Noir Disaster
The last Zealie Pinot Noir I tried was bordering on undrinkable as it “stunk” of oak. New Zealand, in my past experiences, does much better than a stinky Pinot Noir! So hopefully it is redemption time with a Paper Road 2021 Pinot Noir from Borthwick Vineyards family owned and established in 1996. Ancient stony, alluvialContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Failed Recovery Attempt from a New Zealand Pinot Noir Disaster”
RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir
I was in Berlin in the days of yore when the Berlin Wall was “up and running”. At night lit up it was particularly eerie with bright lights and East German soldiers with dogs patrolling and East German soldiers patrolling the patrolling East German soldiers for fear they’d somehow make a break for it. AndContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir”
RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot: To Dream the Almost Impossible Dream
Wine writers must suffer boredom reviewing wines if they have no passion. You might want to say I am passionate about discovering good Ontario Merlot despite the fact it might be a Sir Edmund Hillary climb to find one. The majority taste neutered with little power to impress. Sure you can point to terroir toContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot: To Dream the Almost Impossible Dream”
RKS 2024 Wine: Affordable Quality Cabernet Sauvignon: Look to Chile?
Perez Cruz rarely fumbles preferring to excel. This wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It has spent 14 months in first, second and third fill French oak barrels. Aroma: Blueberry attack. Black cherry, mint with a hint of dark chocolate. Palate: Youngish wine that needs moreContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Affordable Quality Cabernet Sauvignon: Look to Chile?”
RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?
Le Riche Richesse from Stellenbosch uses the term “richesse” to denote the wealth of winemaking traditions in Stellenbosch. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cinsault (13%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Petit Verdot and Merlot. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red licorice and milk chocolate. Palate: Fair to say this presents a rich palate. Very solid wine.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?”
RKS 2024 Wine: Domaine de la Madonne 2022: Beaujolais-Villages
Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, plum and a hint of dark chocolate. Palate: If you are under the impression all Beaujolais are light and fruity that is not the case here. That might be true of Beaujolais but less true for Beaujolais-Villages. There is power and concentration without noticeable tannins in this full-bodied wine. Well trainedContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Domaine de la Madonne 2022: Beaujolais-Villages”
RKS 2024 Wine: More Pinot Noir from British Columbia’s Okanagan: Oak Bay 2021 Pinot Noir: Time to Defund This Wine Writer?
British Columbia’s Okanagan produces a variety of red wines but we are most likely to see Pinot Noir ex-British Columbia. One reliable producer I have encountered to date would be St. Hubertis & Oak Bay Estate Winery located in Kelowna, British Columbia. From clone CL777 the wine is organic and has been aged in FrenchContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: More Pinot Noir from British Columbia’s Okanagan: Oak Bay 2021 Pinot Noir: Time to Defund This Wine Writer?”
RKS 2024 Wine: Kacaba 2019 Cabernet Franc: Shivering in Anticipation for the Bronze Baby!
Golly gee on a bottle of Kacaba 2019 Cabernet Franc I see a sticker at the top of the front label indicating the wine has won a bronze medal in Wine Align National Wine Awards (2022) of Canada! I am assured of excellence with this impressive sticker which most likely had to be paid forContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Kacaba 2019 Cabernet Franc: Shivering in Anticipation for the Bronze Baby!”
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