Robert K. Stephen Wine reviews – Page 17 – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS Wine: This Evodia is a Bit of a Mystery

A bit strange that this is a Spanish wine that is “elaborated and bottled” for Altovinum in Perpignan, France. And the label has no classification of what category of wine this is. It strikes me as a French hypermarché wine. The Liquor Board of Ontario Vintages catalogue states it is made by a Spanish co-operativeContinue reading “RKS Wine: This Evodia is a Bit of a Mystery”

RKS Wine: Bargain Basement Cistus from Portugal’s Douro

If you follow Portuguese wines price is not necessarily linked to quality. You can score some ageable and high-quality wines under $15. And they keep sneaking into Ontario at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Yes one does like to support the local wine industry but given the low cost winners from Portugal do youContinue reading “RKS Wine: Bargain Basement Cistus from Portugal’s Douro”

RKS Wine: Tapiz Alta Collection 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

If you are on auto pilot and hear “Mendoza” your mind will go bing bing and it will text you “Argentinian Malbec”. But there are some good Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs there as well. The generous James Suckling gave this one a 95 and if history serves me correctly this usually means I’ll giveContinue reading “RKS Wine: Tapiz Alta Collection 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon”

RKS: A Rare Beira Wine from Portugal

Just south of the Dão wine region in Portugal you’ll find the Beira Interior Region. At best at the LCBO Vintages releases might feature a handful of wines from this region each year. Pity. The Quinta dos Termos is from the Beira Interior and is a blend of the usual Portuguese grape suspects namely TourigaContinue reading “RKS: A Rare Beira Wine from Portugal”

RKS Wine: The Three Styles of Pinot Noir

Try to simplify Pinot Noir and you are asking for trouble. I like trouble. The first style is the soft and sensual style. Low tannins with aromas of raspberry and ripe strawberries. Think Okanagan Pinot Noirs from Canada’s British Columbia such as the Pinot Noirs from Stag’s Hollow or Meyer Family Vineyards. Then there isContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Three Styles of Pinot Noir”

RKS Wine: North Coast California Dough Cabernet Sauvignon: How a State Monopoly for Liquor Distribution Mocks Us

You may have seen wine “on sale” at your LCBO. Sale most often means a whopping and quite frankly insulting $1.00 or $2.00 discount. Wow! Shiver me timbers! Then the roof gets blown off “a la State Monopoly” with manager discounts that can be as high as 30%. Beyond 30% seems a place no liquorContinue reading “RKS Wine: North Coast California Dough Cabernet Sauvignon: How a State Monopoly for Liquor Distribution Mocks Us”

RKS Wine: Ranch 32 Cabernet Sauvignon: Dump and Run

I am unsure how this wine ever reached the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Aroma: Smells like wine. What grapes? Hard to tell.Taste: Tastes like wine and poor quality at that. Not any shred of fruit.Conclusion: Do not purchase. If purchased return for refund or dump and run. (Ranch 32 2019 CabernetContinue reading “RKS Wine: Ranch 32 Cabernet Sauvignon: Dump and Run”

RKS Wine: El Enemigo 2017 Single Vineyard La Esperanza Bonarda

The bottle is definitely old school. Heavy tonnage. Not exactly carbon neutral! It has a dense black cherry colour. On the nose its very tight fisted holding on to its aromas like a bargain shopper hunting the bins for a 70% discounted wine. But you can’t snuff out the black cherry, black plum, toasted coconut,Continue reading “RKS Wine: El Enemigo 2017 Single Vineyard La Esperanza Bonarda”

RKS Wine: Marynissen Estates: Two Strikes And You Are Out

How generous should you be before calling a winery out? My view is two strikeouts and that winery is out or if you are more forgiving perhaps on probation. I have called a strikeout on Marynissen’s 2019 Cabernet Franc giving that tired and anemic wine a 64/100. What will the 2019 Cabernet Merlot bring? ConsideringContinue reading “RKS Wine: Marynissen Estates: Two Strikes And You Are Out”

RKS Wine: A Couple of Tuscans

Tuscany is a beautiful part of the world and some years ago a friend and I rented a villa in the countryside so both our families had a base. Of course, we visited Montalcino and Montepulciano and admired their quaint beauty however tainted as it was by too many tourists. Yet look elsewhere to theContinue reading “RKS Wine: A Couple of Tuscans”