Robert K. Stephen Wine reviews – Page 16 – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS Wine: Brookwalter’s 2018 Columbia Valley Red Blend from Washington State

The wines of Washington State are a bit like the wines of Lake Erie North Share in Ontario that play second fiddle to the wines of Niagara. Washington State wines play second fiddle to the wines of California. It is not a question of quality but consumer confidence or as our Liquor Control Board ofContinue reading “RKS Wine: Brookwalter’s 2018 Columbia Valley Red Blend from Washington State”

RKS Wine: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW): 2019 Gewürztraminer

Years ago when I started writing about wine I was a champion for the wines of Lake Erie North Shore in Ontario. If you are not producing wines in Niagara in Ontario the state monopoly Liquor Control Board of Ontario gives you a cold shoulder. Yes call it fighting for the underdog. One of theContinue reading “RKS Wine: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW): 2019 Gewürztraminer”

RKS Wine: “Sunday Sail”: A Winner at the Regatta or a Loser Hitting the Rocks?

There will be a new Sauvignon Blanc sailing into Ontario at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario on April 2, 2022. It is called “Sunday Sail”. I like good Sauvignon Blanc but simply saying it is from New Zealand, as “Sunday Sail” won’t convince us. Right? I know a huge seller Zealie Sauvignon Blanc hereContinue reading “RKS Wine: “Sunday Sail”: A Winner at the Regatta or a Loser Hitting the Rocks?”

RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner and The Russian Oligarch: Is There a Putin Lovechild Igor?

We haven’t heard much from the Penniless Pensioner in some time. He contacted me and apologized for not keeping in touch with me. He says he had taken up with a Russian oligarch Svetlana before “all this Ukraine crap”. Svetlana apparently made a fortune in vodka, oil and fentanyl and was staying in her TorontoContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner and The Russian Oligarch: Is There a Putin Lovechild Igor?”

RKS Wine: The Bordeaux River Keeps on Flowing

There is no shortage of Bordeaux reds flowing into Ontario at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. It is not a waterfall as the LCBO attempts to please all with a bit of this and a bit of that and none of many. At $19.95 there is a Château Tour Castillon from the Médoc whichContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Bordeaux River Keeps on Flowing”

RKS Wine: Argentinian Viognier?

We do not see much Argentinian Viognier here in Canada. Most of it comes from California and France. So is this Seral Viognier from Mendoza any good? The grapes are grown at an altitude of 1,300 metres in Tupungato, Mendoza. There is no oak involved just stainless steel. It has a very light gold colourContinue reading “RKS Wine: Argentinian Viognier?”

RKS Wine: Argentinian Well Knowns

The Catena family has been making wines in Argentina for over 100 years so you’d assume they know something about wine. Longevity does not equate with quality though. Let’s check out their Alamos Selección 2018 Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina. On the nose this black cherry purplish colored wine is rich and dense. It isContinue reading “RKS Wine: Argentinian Well Knowns”

RKS Wine: Portugal Comes on Strong in 2022 Tastings

I can’t recall encountering a Portuguese dud in 2022. And the best wine so far is not from the Douro but from Beira Interior. Alentejano wines are proving to be solid wines at more than reasonable prices. We try a 2019 Coutada Velha Signature 2019 which is a Vinho Regional Alentejano. There is some CabernetContinue reading “RKS Wine: Portugal Comes on Strong in 2022 Tastings”

RKS Wine: Wine from Alentejano in Portugal

There has been an increasing number of wines coming our way in Canada from the Alentejano Region in Portugal. They have all been red wines. The Monte da Ravasqueira is a blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. As for aromatics there is some black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and some spice. On the palateContinue reading “RKS Wine: Wine from Alentejano in Portugal”

RKS Wine: Gambling with Ontario Gamay? They Have Lost at the Craps Table With This One!

In the province of Ontario most wineries do a good job with Gamay. Some wineries like Malivoire do an excellent job. What can Di Profio accomplish with Gamay? Or should I say what can 180 Estate Winery do with Gamay? I visited the Di Profio website and when you check out the wines you areContinue reading “RKS Wine: Gambling with Ontario Gamay? They Have Lost at the Craps Table With This One!”