Category Archives: Wine

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”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Ontario Sauvignon Blanc from Wending Home: Elegance with Attitude

If you are mired in the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc mud you enjoy its “thickness” and potency as the old gooseberry and cat’s pee hits you squarely in the eyes. If you prefer a “thinner” or perhaps more elegant Sauvignon Blanc you might turn to Bordeaux or Ontario! I enjoy Sauvignon Blancs from Bordeaux andContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Ontario Sauvignon Blanc from Wending Home: Elegance with Attitude”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Rosehall Run’s 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay From Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada

Rosehall Run 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay is an “entry level” Chardonnay from Rosehall Run in Prince Edward County although it is a VQA Ontario wine as opposed to VQA Prince Edward County. Wonder if the grapes were trucked in from Niagara? Aroma: Pear, apple, lemon, pineapple and some lemon meringue pie. Palate: Crisp and taut. WhileContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Rosehall Run’s 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay From Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Bachelder Bai Xu Single Vineyard 2021 Gamay Noir

From vines planted in 1981. 32% whole cluster. Decant for one hour imparting more life and fruit. Aroma: Loads of red cherry! Secondary notes of raspberry. Tertiary notes of dark chocolate and earthiness. Palate: Not much tannic grip. Smooth. Modest acidity. Airy cherry and raspberry. Fruity. Long peppered finish with a tiny bit of sweetness.Continue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Bachelder Bai Xu Single Vineyard 2021 Gamay Noir”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Liebling Wines’ 2022 Cabernet Franc

Liebling Wines is not a winery. It is what we call a virtual winery where those who craft wines use the premises and sometimes the expertise of an established winery permitting lower costs and perhaps more experimentation with small batch production. Liebling Wines finds its roots in 1984 when Matthias Oppenlaender arrived in Niagara, OntarioContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Liebling Wines’ 2022 Cabernet Franc”

RKS 2025 Wine: The Road Less Travelled Can Be Bumpy

Many a wine drinker is happy in their pod like Sigourney Weaver returning home in “Alien” drinking a very limited range of wines whether that be brand, varietal or geographical. It could be trepidation about moving off the beaten path. A Cabernet Sauvignon offers comfort to many a consumer but a Kéfrankos may terrorize others.Continue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: The Road Less Travelled Can Be Bumpy”