RKS 2024 Wine: Herdade Do Sobroso from Portugal: The 2020 Was an 89: The 2021?

I rated the 2020 Herdade do Sobroso from Portugal an 89. What fate will I assign to the 2021? The 2021 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Aragonez (30%), Alicante Bouschet (30%) and Syrah (20%). The grapes were handpicked and aged in 500 litre French oak barrels for 6 months. Aroma: Creamy blackberry. Palate:Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Herdade Do Sobroso from Portugal: The 2020 Was an 89: The 2021?”

The Great Toronto Tim Hortons Near Riot!

On 26March2024 I received an e-mail from “Your Friends at Yorkdale VW” showing how much they appreciated me being part of the VW family. Golly as Sally Field once said at the Oscars, “You really love me!” So nice to be loved by a large German corporation! I was so loved an offer was madeContinue reading “The Great Toronto Tim Hortons Near Riot!”

RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir

I was in Berlin in the days of yore when the Berlin Wall was “up and running”. At night lit up it was particularly eerie with bright lights and East German soldiers with dogs patrolling and East German soldiers patrolling the patrolling East German soldiers for fear they’d somehow make a break for it. AndContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?

Le Riche Richesse from Stellenbosch uses the term “richesse” to denote the wealth of winemaking traditions in Stellenbosch. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cinsault (13%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Petit Verdot and Merlot. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red licorice and milk chocolate. Palate: Fair to say this presents a rich palate. Very solid wine.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?”

RKS 2024 Film: “Doubles”: Canadian Film Fest

Doubles are a Trinidadian street food. Curried chickpeas (channa) between two pieces of fried flatbread in tamarind and coriander sauce with mango chutney, kuchela and cucumbers. Dhani (Sanjiv Boodhu) who is of Indian descent and his mother run a small roadside stand selling doubles in Trinidad. It is a marginal existence worsened by a robberyContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Doubles”: Canadian Film Fest”

“Travels to a Different Time”: 22July2005: Lagos, Portugal: How Do You Tell a Brit in Portugal? Off to the End of The World

Breakfast at Hotel Tivoli was described as “lavish” on the hotel’s website. We have had some breakfasts in Portugal that were lavish and this buffet breakfast is tasty especially the fried eggs and baked beans. We wouldn’t however call this buffet breakfast as lavish. There are so many Brits here who simply must have theirContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time”: 22July2005: Lagos, Portugal: How Do You Tell a Brit in Portugal? Off to the End of The World”

“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: 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”

“Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: Visit to Cascais and Sintra

Alex is flying back to Toronto from Lisbon today. Breakfast is so “dignified” here. Low voices, Formal settings and service. Might I say “stuffy”? A tremendous buffet breakfast. Years ago while travelling in a just opening up Greece I was starving most of the day particularly with such meagre breakfasts. This breakfast would have beenContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: Visit to Cascais and Sintra”

RKS Literature: The Splendid Parisian Air (James Baldwin)

“…it is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent, or even hostile to the French. And this is made possible by the one person in Paris whom the legend seems least not to affect, who is not living it all, that is, the Parisian himself. Him with his impenetrable politesse, andContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Splendid Parisian Air (James Baldwin)”