Ontario produces some superb Cabernet Francs. One might say it is Ontario’s red wine strength. There is Cabernet Franc in this obnoxiously named wine perhaps better suited to the rodeo circuit in Florida. But there is also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah none of which individually craft remarkable wines in Ontario. However in the blendingContinue reading “RKS Wine: Wildass Red: Can the Sum Total Overcome Certain Individual Varietals?”
Category Archives: Wine
RKS Wine: Croatia’s Dalmatian Dog
I enjoyed Plavac Mali which is the king of red wine in Croatia with much of the grape being grown on the Dalmatian Coast. The Dalmatian Dog is from the Babić grape also grown on the Dalmatian coast. It is known under more than 30 different names. We get so little Croatian wine due toContinue reading “RKS Wine: Croatia’s Dalmatian Dog”
RKS Wine: 2014 Memories of the Douro: Exhaustion Mitigated by the Thrill
My media trip to the Douro in 2014 was memorable. It was early November and a chill had descended upon the Douro which can be furnace like in the summer. 5 days starting at 9 and ending around 5 hopping around from winery to winery in a Mercedes van with a guide. But that wasContinue reading “RKS Wine: 2014 Memories of the Douro: Exhaustion Mitigated by the Thrill”
RKS Wine: Confidencial Reserve Rosé from Lisbon
Confidencial is a label of Casa Santos Lima. They make a low-priced red that is a real winner and one of those old-style red wines that needs some serious ageing to flourish. This rosé is from “more than 10 grapes” and the winery considers the types as “confidential”. I suspect that with so many varietiesContinue reading “RKS Wine: Confidencial Reserve Rosé from Lisbon”
RKS Wine: Chile Keeps on Trying with Its Cabernet Sauvignon
Give Chile an A for trying to impress with its Cabernet Sauvignon. South African reds often have an earthy and slightly funky smell to them. Chilean reds often a faint hint of mint. These characteristics may add a “national characteristic” to the wines of those two countries and if in moderation no need to complain.Continue reading “RKS Wine: Chile Keeps on Trying with Its Cabernet Sauvignon”
RKS Wine: Postcards from The Edge: Greetings from Riesling Rehab Part 1: God Bless the Okanagan Valley Liberation Front!
Where did my vicious downward spiral begin with Ontario Riesling? As a loyal soldier in the German Riesling Badder Than Meinhof gang all was humming well particularly my missions in the Pfalz warm weather Riesling area of our dear Deutschland where my comrades and I waved our revolutionary flags and gobbled pig knuckles and munchedContinue reading “RKS Wine: Postcards from The Edge: Greetings from Riesling Rehab Part 1: God Bless the Okanagan Valley Liberation Front!”
RKS Wine: From the Terraced Vineyards of the Douro
The Douro River trip from Porto to Pinhão either on a ship or by rail is remarkably beautiful. One feature you see is terraced vineyards running up from the river. Mechanization is problematic given the steep slopes. This Lua Cheia red wine from the Douro was grown on terraced slopes. It has a black cherryContinue reading “RKS Wine: From the Terraced Vineyards of the Douro“
RKS Wine: A Red Wine Clunker from Tejo in Portugal: Memories of Mahatma Gandhi
When I saw this wine called Babu from the Tejo in Portugal it invoked memories of Gandhi. Gandhi had a nickname of Bapu which is so close to Babu. While not an exact match with Babu it is close enough to trigger a smile and toast to the great Indian statesman. The Portuguese set upContinue reading “RKS Wine: A Red Wine Clunker from Tejo in Portugal: Memories of Mahatma Gandhi”
RKS Wine: Memories of Pilfered Gewurztraminer
Back in my rebel rebel period my pal would come over for a couple of glasses of wine before we headed out to our hangout in Montreal “The Rainbow Bar and Grill” on Stanley Street where my friend used to drink Tequila Sunrises like they were water and pine over a beautiful waitress Liz who,Continue reading “RKS Wine: Memories of Pilfered Gewurztraminer”
RKS Wine: Mayhem’s 2021 Riesling
No I am not going to kvetch about Niagara Rieslings this time. Enough negative vibes in a world that has enough negativity in it. So can Mayhem take it up a notch and introduce some positivity into the Canadian wine world with its British Columbia Riesling? It has some aromatics that get my positive RieslingContinue reading “RKS Wine: Mayhem’s 2021 Riesling”
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