Category Archives: Wine

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Henry of Pelham 2020 School House Cabernet Merlot

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Aroma: Penetrating blackberry, black cherry and blueberry in equal mixture ensconced in a gentle oak overlay. Palate: Broad based moderate tannins. A fine example of a highly disciplined wine and by that, I mean the fruit is there but your keen senses and more time inContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Henry of Pelham 2020 School House Cabernet Merlot”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Big Head Red #11

Big Head Red #11 is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Dornfelder from three different vintages and a combination of fresh and appassimento wines. Following this vintage for 3 releases now it is a blend one looks forward to. Aroma: Black fruit galore complimented by raspberry and mocha. A bit reminiscentContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Big Head Red #11”

RKS 2025 Canadian Wine: Mastronardi 2021 Merlot Cabernet Offers an Escape from Niagara Imperialism

If you are looking to buy Canadian wine here in Ontario on a Liquor Commission Board of Ontario Vintages bi-monthly release the bias (if not obsession) is for wines produced in the Niagara region. Tokenism is extended to wines from Prince Edward County and Lake Erie North Shore and as for wines from British Columbia,Continue reading “RKS 2025 Canadian Wine: Mastronardi 2021 Merlot Cabernet Offers an Escape from Niagara Imperialism”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: KEW Vineyards Marches to the Cabernet Drum

A blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot. 13% of the blend was dried out in the appassimento fashion. Matured in French oak for 18 months. Aroma: You can certainly discern slight richness in the aroma imparted by the appassimento influenced portion of the blend giving the wine a richness itContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: KEW Vineyards Marches to the Cabernet Drum”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: A Pinot Noir from Prince Edward County

We try a 2020 Redtail Pinot Noir from Hubbs Creek Vineyard from Prince Edward County, Ontario aka The County. Hubbs Creek Vineyard is a small family-owned vineyard planted over 15 years ago in the small town of Hillier, Ontario. The Pinot Noir was aged in Burgundian oak for 18 months. Aroma: Strawberry, raspberry, red cherryContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: A Pinot Noir from Prince Edward County”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Steve Byfield at it Again with a Tight Assed 2021 Cadence Red

Virtual winemaker Steve Byfield is at it again with another Cadence Red a blend of Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (36%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Malbec (5%). 122 cases produced. Aroma: Tightly structured demanding at least one more year in the bottle to fuitify a bit more.  Black fruit is to be noticed here particularly blackberry,Continue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Steve Byfield at it Again with a Tight Assed 2021 Cadence Red”

Spoof News Services: United States Launches Offensive Against Canadian Ice-wine: Maple Syrup Could be Next: Lac Duvin, Quebec (16February2025)

The Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, Susan Malaka, announced that commencing immediately all sales of Canadian Ice-wine will be prohibited in the United States. Malaka announced at a meeting of Golden Age Youth in Dayton, Ohio, “Effective immediately we have resurrected Prohibition in our fight against Canadian Ice-wine. The Canadians hit our winesContinue reading “Spoof News Services: United States Launches Offensive Against Canadian Ice-wine: Maple Syrup Could be Next: Lac Duvin, Quebec (16February2025)”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Can’t do Cabernet Franc right then go home!

I was taken aback reading the description of Peller Estates Private Reserve 2020 Cabernet Franc in the 5February2025 Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s Vintages catalogue, “For those in the know, Cabernet Franc is one of the hush hush superstars of the Ontario wine scene.” Superstar yes. Hush Hush? Was it ever hush hush? Well debatableContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Can’t do Cabernet Franc right then go home!”

TRUMP AGRESSION TOWARDS CANADA:  Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) Hard At Work Protecting The Interests of Ontario

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party has “Protect Ontario” as one of its electoral slogans for the upcoming 27February2025 provincial election. Premier Doug Ford, as his fellow premiers of Canada, has focused on the low hanging and visible fruit of American alcohol particularly bourbon, as a punitive target but has waited to remove all American alcoholContinue reading “TRUMP AGRESSION TOWARDS CANADA:  Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) Hard At Work Protecting The Interests of Ontario”

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Playing a Tricky Game with a Petrichor 2022 Cabernet Merlot

While developing a guarded respect for Ontario Merlot when carefully oaked, Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon rarely pleases. Blend the two together with some Cabernet Franc and you may be playing a risky game condemned to a wine dulled by neutrality and loss of identity. Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant in a smoky envelope. Palate:Continue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Playing a Tricky Game with a Petrichor 2022 Cabernet Merlot”