Category Archives: Wine

RKS Wine: More Penniless Pensioner Wines: South Africa’s Alvi’s Drift Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

In today’s Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s monopoly any wine under $15 falls into the Penniless Pensioner Category. The question of course is it any good. Cheap does not mean plonk. It may help there is no glowing review accompanying its description in the LCBO Vintages Catalogue which might keep the cost down. Geez itContinue reading “RKS Wine: More Penniless Pensioner Wines: South Africa’s Alvi’s Drift Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2019”

Stag’s Hollow From British Columbia Hits the Mark!

7 JULY, LONDON: Full results from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 have been released today, revealing big wins for established wine regions but also many hidden gems from producers making exciting wines across the globe. This year marks the biggest ever Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), which is already the world’s largest and most influential wineContinue reading “Stag’s Hollow From British Columbia Hits the Mark!”

RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner Selection: Greece’s Thalia Rosé

You know in Canada the Canadian government Canada Pension Plan pays way under the poverty line. If you haven’t had the income to stuff your Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Tax-Free Savings Account or never benefitted from a private pension plan you may be close to penniless when you retire assuming of course you aren’tContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner Selection: Greece’s Thalia Rosé”

RKS Wine: Hot For Hungary? Drinking outside the box

Hungarian wine dribbles into the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) at a slow pace. Shame. While I enjoy the red Kéfrankos and the legendary Tokaji sweet white wine we really don’t see much more than that. This time it is a Zelna Bárka Red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Are weContinue reading “RKS Wine: Hot For Hungary? Drinking outside the box”

RKS Wine: A Couple of 92’s from Spain

Imagine as a wine producer no wine reviewer picks up your wine. Well that’s not so bad if your wine is good. Favourable news travels by word of mouth. If you receive a negative review distributors want to keep that off the radar. If you get a 90 plus it is as if you haveContinue reading “RKS Wine: A Couple of 92’s from Spain”

RKS Wine: Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th of July

All living souls in Canada and the United States have been through a difficult and frustrating time with COVID-19. There hasn’t been much optimism this year with wave after wave and dire threats and a ceaseless stream of propaganda from a politico medico elite funded by our tax dollars. But it would seem finally thatContinue reading “RKS Wine: Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th of July”

RKS Wine: Smoke and Gamble’s Appassimento: My Grandmother Would be Mortified!

My late mother used to sing part of a song of which I do not know the name of but she did say she learnt it from my grandmother. The refrain was “lips that touch liquor will never touch mine”. Yes my grandmother was in the Temperance movement in Ontario. Grandmother would be mortified byContinue reading “RKS Wine: Smoke and Gamble’s Appassimento: My Grandmother Would be Mortified!”

RKS Wine: Mastroberardino’s Irpina Aglianico 2018

Perhaps one of Campania’s best-known wineries what think I of their 2018 Aglianico? On the nose I am transported to the Greater Naples area of Italy with black cherry, cherry liqueur, blackberry and smells from the Bay of Naples.  The aromas are high toned as if they are floating about in a rocket beam toContinue reading “RKS Wine: Mastroberardino’s Irpina Aglianico 2018”

Viognier: In a Class All by its Own or in a Blend: A Gewurztraminer on Sedatives?

Viognier reminds me of, peach, apricots and honey all in a full bodied but not sweet wine. Yes you can find some in Ontario and in British Columbia in Canada with better success in British Columbia. You will find perhaps the best Viognier in Condrieu in the Rhône in France but Australia’s Yalumba Winery producesContinue reading “Viognier: In a Class All by its Own or in a Blend: A Gewurztraminer on Sedatives?”

Eradus 2020 Sauvignon Blanc From New Zealand

I remember having dinner with Michiel Eradus in Toronto a few years ago and heard many a good story about New Zealand. There is no better public relations than meeting and breaking bread with winery owners, vineyard managers and their marketing people. I will never forget that dinner with Michiel and of course will neverContinue reading “Eradus 2020 Sauvignon Blanc From New Zealand”