From the Colchagua Valley in Chile we have a Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère. In 1966 Laura Bisquertt inherited the “Santa Laura Estate” from Osvaldo her father who had planted traditional crops and raised dairy livestock on it. Laura’s husband Alejandro Hartwig bought adjoining plots of land and planting of traditional Bordeaux grapes commenced inContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Laura Hartwig Chilean Carménère: Pinot Noir on Steroids?”
Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen Wine reviews
RKS 2023 Wine: The Superhero Wine Writer Humbly and Inadequately Explores a Chilean Carignan
Occasionally you encounter the superhero wine writer proud to be a judge at a wine competition or simply at some wine tasting event. Superhero has just tasted 83 wines and rated each of them maybe in the space of a couple of hours! Amazing! My crappy palate is put to the test on certain pressContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: The Superhero Wine Writer Humbly and Inadequately Explores a Chilean Carignan”
RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Biodiversity Organic Wine: Confessions of a Rat!
Here we have an organic red blend from the Maipo Valley in Chile consisting of 58% Carmenère, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has aged a year in French oak barrels. Aroma: Raspberry, blueberry, blackberries and root beer. I can detect some acidity on the nose hoping it will beContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Biodiversity Organic Wine: Confessions of a Rat!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Yet Another Excellent Chilean Carmenère: Morandé 2020 Gran Reserva Carmenère
At $16.95 this wine is a steal. How long can Chilean red wine competitors stand in the face of such reasonable prices for full bodied red wine? The wine has spent 18 months in French oak foudres. Aroma: Freshly picked raspberries and raspberry jam shine through. Also blackberries and a bit of mocha. Palate: RelaxedContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Yet Another Excellent Chilean Carmenère: Morandé 2020 Gran Reserva Carmenère”
RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère from Viña Koyle
As far as Chilean Carménère goes this year it is hard to find a klunker but you never quite know do you? We put a Koyle Royale Carménère from the Alto Colchagua to the test. Aroma: While many Chilean Carménères have a nice raspberry and strawberry touch characteristic of a lighter red wine this oneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Chilean Carménère from Viña Koyle”
RKS 2023 Wine: Poor Ignored Greece!
Like so many European wine producing countries Greek wine receives very little attention from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. California is “show me the money”. And as there is no meaningful competition in the Ontario marketplace consumer exploitation! Same old countries over and over and over again. I am off to Portugal shortly forContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Poor Ignored Greece!”
RKS 2023 Wine: CREW and Ontario Cabernet Franc
CREW has a long record of producing excellent Lake Erie North Shore Cabernet Franc. Ontario should be proud of its Cabernet Franc. What is going down with CREW’s 2019 Cabernet Franc? Aromatics: Some very bright cherry and raspberry cheer up the glass. Additional notes of black cherry, cedar and milk chocolate Palate: The tannins areContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: CREW and Ontario Cabernet Franc”
RKS 2023 Wine: Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay from Chile; Chernobyl Meltdown!
Red wines from Chile predominate on the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. White wines from Chile are in the shadows. You are more likely to see Chardonnay as the most prominent Chilean white. Chilean whites continue to disappoint in 2023. So let’s try the 2020 Santa Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay. Aromatics: Pear,Continue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay from Chile; Chernobyl Meltdown!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Undurraga T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from Chile
Undurraga made a stellar T.H 2019 Carignan from the Maule Valley which I rated a 93 so with anticipation we try their T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from the Malleco Valley. It was aged 10 months in concrete eggs and neutral French oak barrels. Having tasted too few Chilean Pinot Noirs they tend to have veryContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Undurraga T.H. 2019 Pinot Noir from Chile”
RKS 2023 Wines: CREW 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon: Can History Repeat Itself?
Years ago, it was 2011, I rated the CREW 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon a 91/100 and for an Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon that’s remarkable. I can recall Bernard Gorski, proprietor of Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW), telling me the grapes had been harvested as late as November. Since that date I have rarely had a great OntarioContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wines: CREW 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon: Can History Repeat Itself?”
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