My experience with Ontario Merlot has not been impressive. However jazz it up with some oak and it can work a bit of magic. The label on this Colio Estate Winery 2020 Reserve Merlot states, “ …and the smooth silky finish bestowed on the wine by skilled oak aging.” Their website fails to describe theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot and Running for Cover”
Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen
“Travels to a Different Time” : 19July2005: Estoril, Portugal: Portuguese Strongmen Lift Massive Bus
Breakfast buffet service at the Palacio Hotel has been exceptional but today they could not keep up with replenishing the scrambled eggs and bacon. The fruit is plentiful and top rate. The peaches and oranges from the Algarve are superb. We headed off to Sintra after breakfast but this time along the coastal road thatContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 19July2005: Estoril, Portugal: Portuguese Strongmen Lift Massive Bus”
RKS 2024 Wine: 2020 Château Grand Escalion Costières de Nîmes: Boxer and Cash
A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Aroma: Big juicy local strawberries which have not suffered the indignity of too long a voyage. Some raspberry and blackberry thrown in for good measure. Palate: If this was George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” this would be Boxer. The good natured and simplistic horse. Solid and muscular with sourContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: 2020 Château Grand Escalion Costières de Nîmes: Boxer and Cash”
“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Our North Korean Experience: On Tour in North Korea: The Call of Nature for Dylan the Westie Just About Sends Him to the Gallows: A Warning for The Mookster: Chapter Seventy (70)
After our sumptuous feast with Kim and his sister we return to our hotel. It has been searched in our absence. Bob leashes us up and takes us for a walk. There are no people on the streets. There is no pee mail in this town of Pyongyang. Could it be all the dogs, aContinue reading ““Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Our North Korean Experience: On Tour in North Korea: The Call of Nature for Dylan the Westie Just About Sends Him to the Gallows: A Warning for The Mookster: Chapter Seventy (70)”
RKS 2024 Wine: The Terror of Terroir
I recall a few years ago while reviewing The Ritz-Carlton Central Park South in New York City discussing wine with their head sommelier. She indicated some weariness with assessing vintage years and wine classifications. Her focus was simple and that was knowing what customers appreciated and building on that if the customer willingness was there.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Terror of Terroir”
“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Off to North Korea! Prime Minister Trudeau Calls Me a Flea-Bitten Mutt! Sipping Drone Cocktails: Will Kim Jong Un be Invited to the Next Canadian Grey Cup Game? Chapter Sixty Nine (69)
After we wake up and have our bowl of kibble and a half cup of jasmine tea in our water bowl Bob takes me and Dylan the Westie aside and informs us we have a call with President Joe Biden at 2 p.m. What is going on with Joe? At 2 p.m. we have aContinue reading ““Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Off to North Korea! Prime Minister Trudeau Calls Me a Flea-Bitten Mutt! Sipping Drone Cocktails: Will Kim Jong Un be Invited to the Next Canadian Grey Cup Game? Chapter Sixty Nine (69)”
RKS Literature: The World Will Never Be White Again (James Baldwin)
“One of the things that distinguishes Americans from other people is that no other people have ever been so deeply involved in the lives of black men, and vice versa. This fact faced, with all its implications, it can be seen that the history of the American Negro problem is not merely shameful, it isContinue reading “RKS Literature: The World Will Never Be White Again (James Baldwin)”
RKS 2024 Film: “Our Grandmother-The Inlet”
This Canadian short falls into the “angry Indigenous genre” of documentaries. The treatment of Canadian Indigenous nations justifies the anger which is so intense in this short documentary with the distressed Kayah George, a young Indigenous woman that wants to burn “this fucking city down”. Could that be Vancouver? George, often with skateboard in hand,Continue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Our Grandmother-The Inlet””
The Penniless Pensioner and His Wines: A Rare Vintages Occurrence From Portugal’s Alentejano: The .95 Obsession
The big wine monopoly in the province of Ontario occasionally graces its shelves with wine that even pensioners can afford. So yes I am back, The Penniless Pensioner, presenting you a $14.95 Portuguese wine. That liquor monopoly has almost all its products with that 95 after the big dollar. Do they think this sways theContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner and His Wines: A Rare Vintages Occurrence From Portugal’s Alentejano: The .95 Obsession”
RKS 2024 Film: “Cherry”: A Fly on the Wall Not Wanting to be on That Wall
Marie-Lise Chouinard (1986-2002) a beloved Quebecoise dies slowly in front of the camera. At age 36 she has lymphoma with months to live and heroically with vivacity and humour, but not without moments of sadness and distress, lifts her persona to the very end. When I grasped her terminal state I did not want toContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Cherry”: A Fly on the Wall Not Wanting to be on That Wall”
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