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”
Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen Wine reviews
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”
RKS Wine: 2021 Was Not a Great Year for Bordeaux
A spring frost and mildew was not very kind to Bordeaux in 2021. Yields seem to be down as much as 30%. And the quality? Time will tell. Should you stock up now? There seems to be enough flow from previous harvests so stocking up would not seem necessary. Pick with care the 2021’s orContinue reading “RKS Wine: 2021 Was Not a Great Year for Bordeaux”
RKS Wine: The Okanagan’s Mayhem 2020 Riesling and My Treatment for Riesling Hesitation Syndrome
I am very discerning about Ontario Rieslings and I don’t want to stir things up about why. I have much better luck with British Columbia Rieslings. Trust Mayhem to cause a bit of mayhem with its Riesling as not only was it aged in stainless steel but neutral French oak. EEKS! Oak and Riesling! DoesContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Okanagan’s Mayhem 2020 Riesling and My Treatment for Riesling Hesitation Syndrome”
RKS Wine: Portugal’s Alentejano Goes Beyond Indigenous and My Thoughts On A Corked Wine
In addition to Portuguese indigenous grapes Alentejano wines often throw into the blend some “international” grapes such as Syrah, Alicante Bouschet or Merlot. For example the 2016 Flor de Maio has in its blend of Trincadeira and Aragonez some Syrah. It is garnet in color. As for aroma there is black cherry, ripe strawberry, chocolateContinue reading “RKS Wine: Portugal’s Alentejano Goes Beyond Indigenous and My Thoughts On A Corked Wine”
RKS Wine: My View on Viewpointe 2012 Cabernet Franc
Viewpointe Estate Winery has a beautiful tasting room overlooking Lake Erie. They craft good wines. Lake Erie North Shore (LENS) is the appellation and is largely ignored by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) in favour of the wines of Niagara. Mention Lake Erie North Shore and most Ontario wine drinkers just might lookContinue reading “RKS Wine: My View on Viewpointe 2012 Cabernet Franc”
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