I am uncertain how many of you know me. You will soon be able to read more about me in the Final Cut of my autobiography “The Penniless Pensioner”. Rest assured I am not a crotchety Mr. Otto or Mr. Wilson character timidly nibbling on a can of cat food with toasted stale reduced WonderContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner and A Campanian Wine: Memories of His Murdered Wife”
Category Archives: Wine
RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot and Running for Cover
My experience with Ontario Merlot has not been impressive. However jazz it up with some oak and it can work a bit of magic. The label on this Colio Estate Winery 2020 Reserve Merlot states, “ …and the smooth silky finish bestowed on the wine by skilled oak aging.” Their website fails to describe theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot and Running for Cover”
RKS 2024 Wine: 2020 Château Grand Escalion Costières de Nîmes: Boxer and Cash
A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Aroma: Big juicy local strawberries which have not suffered the indignity of too long a voyage. Some raspberry and blackberry thrown in for good measure. Palate: If this was George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” this would be Boxer. The good natured and simplistic horse. Solid and muscular with sourContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: 2020 Château Grand Escalion Costières de Nîmes: Boxer and Cash”
RKS 2024 Wine: The Terror of Terroir
I recall a few years ago while reviewing The Ritz-Carlton Central Park South in New York City discussing wine with their head sommelier. She indicated some weariness with assessing vintage years and wine classifications. Her focus was simple and that was knowing what customers appreciated and building on that if the customer willingness was there.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Terror of Terroir”
The Penniless Pensioner and His Wines: A Rare Vintages Occurrence From Portugal’s Alentejano: The .95 Obsession
The big wine monopoly in the province of Ontario occasionally graces its shelves with wine that even pensioners can afford. So yes I am back, The Penniless Pensioner, presenting you a $14.95 Portuguese wine. That liquor monopoly has almost all its products with that 95 after the big dollar. Do they think this sways theContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner and His Wines: A Rare Vintages Occurrence From Portugal’s Alentejano: The .95 Obsession”
RKS 2024 Wine: Frogpond Croaker of an Ontario Gamay! Colonoscopy Memories
Generally speaking, organic wines are cleaner tasting than non-organic. How many dead wines do we encounter? Probably too many. Spray and spray and eventually kill the soil. God help you if you have any vegetation growing between rows of vines. Why would you want to have sheep munching on the growth between the vines? ForgetContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Frogpond Croaker of an Ontario Gamay! Colonoscopy Memories”
RKS 2024 Wine: Côtes-du-Rhône Preferred to Côtes du Moan
You won’t be emitting moans when imbibing most Côtes du Rhônes. That is not to say you won’t encounter tastelessness or excess acidity but rarely. Expect Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault in the mix for a Côtes-du-Rhône red. We try La Croix de Beauliac Creation 2021 Côtes-du-Rhône. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Aroma: With aContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Côtes-du-Rhône Preferred to Côtes du Moan”
RKS 2024 Wine: Greek Wine from Monemvasia Winery
The 2014 Monemvasia Red is a blend of 90% Agiorgitiko and 10% Mavroudi. We do see some Agiorgitiko in Canada but Mavroudi is a grape I am not familiar with. In Greek, at least that which I am familiar with, “mavros” means black. It is no surprise that Mavroudi grapes are nearly black in colour.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Greek Wine from Monemvasia Winery”
RKS 2024 Wine: Argentinian Malbec Exhaustion
Tired of Argentinian Malbec in your red wine glass. Is there hope for Argentinian Criolla? The wine we are trying is Criolla Grande and it has a bad rep. In Karen MacNeil’s “Wine Bible” (second edition) the grape is described as follows: “A widely planted if undistinguished, pinkish-skinned grape related to other criollas, but itsContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Argentinian Malbec Exhaustion”
RKS 2024 Wine: Hostage to Cali Cabernet Sauvignons
In Canada in terms of American Cabernet Sauvignon we are hostage to California Cabernet Sauvignons. I am sure Texas produces some notable Cabernet Sauvignons but timid buyers for our state liquor monopoly the Liquor Control Board of Ontario would rather sell their mother than look to Texas or 48 other states for American wine. MyContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hostage to Cali Cabernet Sauvignons”
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