Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2023 Wine: Errazuriz Max VIII from Chile

Sorry can’t help thinking this wine sounds like some motor oil. Hopefully it tastes better than Saudi juice. It comes from 8 different vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile which has been carved out by the abundant rainwater that flows down from Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain range in the western hemisphere. Red varietiesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Errazuriz Max VIII from Chile”

RKS 2023 Wine: One of Chile’s Great Chardonnays?

The Ventisquero Tara Atacama White Wine 1 2020 is only available in 10 Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores and considering the price of $54.95 it is no wonder! The label does not specifically label the wine as a Chardonnay instead stating: “Base Wine: Chardonnay”. Third party websites confirm it is 100% Chardonnay. My AntiContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: One of Chile’s Great Chardonnays?”

RKS 2023 Wine: Undurraga T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from Chile

Undurraga made a stellar T.H 2019 Carignan from the Maule Valley which I rated a 93 so with anticipation we try their T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from the Malleco Valley. It was aged 10 months in concrete eggs and neutral French oak barrels. Having tasted too few Chilean Pinot Noirs they tend to have veryContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Undurraga T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from Chile”

RKS 2023 Wine: Why the Grape Mystery? Burnt Ship Bay 2019 Reserve Red

Hopefully wine consumers are not horses in Central Park that need blinders on! Are not wine consumers entitled to know what grapes are being used in their wine particularly in a blend? With Burnt Ship Bay 2019 Reserve Red there is grape mystery. The label, the winery website and the Liquor Control Board of OntarioContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Why the Grape Mystery? Burnt Ship Bay 2019 Reserve Red”

RKS 2023 Wine: An Interesting Scoring System for Wine!

“The impish editor of Merum, a serious Swiss Magazine, has another way of expressing his judgement of what is good to drink. He regularly invites eight colleagues for lunch and puts a dozen wines of similar provenance in front of them. The score is measured in centimetres of wine left in each bottle. The emptyContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: An Interesting Scoring System for Wine!”

RKS 2023 Wines: Special Memories of the Dão: Boas Quintas

I had the pleasure of visiting the Dão in 2018 with some members of the international wine media. The wines, the vineyards, the topography the people and the food were memorable although the schedule was rough. Fly into Porto overnight from Toronto. Meet at the Porto Sheraton and relax with a tea which I neverContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wines: Special Memories of the Dão: Boas Quintas”

Misadventures in Wine Chapter 8: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Know it All”

At times there can be a thin line separating The Know It All from the knowledgeable. The Know it All thinks they know all about wine. Although the adage “The more you know the less you know” is never entirely correct there can be a grain of truth in it as applicable to wine. NewContinue reading “Misadventures in Wine Chapter 8: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Know it All””

RKS 2023 Wines: CREW 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon: Can History Repeat Itself?

Years ago, it was 2011, I rated the CREW 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon a 91/100 and for an Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon that’s remarkable. I can recall Bernard Gorski, proprietor of Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW), telling me the grapes had been harvested as late as November. Since that date I have rarely had a great OntarioContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wines: CREW 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon: Can History Repeat Itself?”

Misadventures in Wine Chapter 7: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Affected by Memories Ones”

In the “Affected by Memories” crowd there are drinkers that fondly recall trips taken to different countries which may include wine producing regions and perhaps even wineries. Most often the memories are fond as new wines are tried, geographical delights are encountered, new foods and perhaps even new friends are all made possible by wine.Continue reading “Misadventures in Wine Chapter 7: Wine Drinker Profiles: “The Affected by Memories Ones””

RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère: If You Can’t Do It Right Go Home!

When it is a matter of Chilean Carménère if you can’t do it right go home. The Chileans more often than not vint top rate Carménère. You come to expect a quality red wine with a bottle of Carménère. From my perspective to date raspberry and strawberry notes are a possible tip off to highContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère: If You Can’t Do It Right Go Home!”