Tag Archives: wine-tasting

RKS 2024 Wine: Boas Quintas Dão’s 2020 Gandarada

I had the pleasure of a recent visit to Boas Quintas in the Dão region of Portugal. After a hearty breakfast we headed off in a slight November fog to the winery. It was strangely North American in set up both in tasting room design and in marketing. Special Christmas combo packages were available ratherContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Boas Quintas Dão’s 2020 Gandarada”

RKS 2024 Wine: Canadian Pinot Noir Eh? Bachelder Les Villages Bench 2021 Pinot Noir

Any country with a couple of pesos to rub, and that includes Canada and France, can bottle up Pinot Noir but there is so much inferior product. Thomas Bachelder has been crafting excellent Niagara Pinot Noirs for years now garnering a top reputation initially with Le Clos Jordanne. Is he the king of Canadian PinotContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Canadian Pinot Noir Eh? Bachelder Les Villages Bench 2021 Pinot Noir”

RKS 2024 Wine: Donnafugata La Bella Sedàra 2021

This Sicilia DOC Rosso is a blend where Nero d’Avola, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon comprise most of the blend. The wine has seen no oak. The flamboyant label is dedicated to Claudia Cardinale who portrayed the character of Angelica Sedàra in the 1963 film Il Gattopardo (“The Leopard”). Aroma: The wine has a very cleanContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Donnafugata La Bella Sedàra 2021”

RKS 2024 Wine: Searching for a Reasonably Priced Merlot in Italy

Ontario struggles with a reasonably priced Merlot. Good Merlots are not easy finds in Ontario. My favourite is the Merlot from Two Sisters in Niagara-on-the-Lake but at $60 a bottle few are willing to pony up at that price. So we look to Italy for a reasonably priced Merlot. We find an Italian Merlot fromContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Searching for a Reasonably Priced Merlot in Italy”

RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone 2020 Onyx from Niagara

33% Merlot. 33% Cabernet Franc. 33% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc thrives in Ontario and almost always makes wines that do not disappoint. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are most often mundane but when judiciously oaked can shine. Each varietal was individually fermented. The Merlot was fermented and aged in French oak barrels. The Cabernets were fermentedContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone 2020 Onyx from Niagara”

RKS 2024 Wine: The Pavlovian Dog Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Many hearing “Malbec” salivate and bark up the Argentinian tree forgetting or not knowing that Malbec can be found in France. In fact it is one of the permitted grapes for red Bordeaux and has quite a reputation in the Cahors appellation for quality and ageability. Let’s give Prieuré de Cénac Malbec from the CahorsContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Pavlovian Dog Barking Up the Wrong Tree”

RKS 2024 Wine: A High-Risk Endeavour from Riverview Estate Winery: Baco Noir and Foch Blend!

Ontario Baco Noir flops more often than not. It has flopped many times in my glass but when managed in the vineyard and in the vat it can make exceptional Baco Noir e.g. Henry of Pelham. And Foch ripped out aplenty years ago can make some exceptional wine e.g. Malivoire. 54% Maréchal Foch and 46%Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A High-Risk Endeavour from Riverview Estate Winery: Baco Noir and Foch Blend!”

RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!

I encountered this Riesling sitting on a beautiful Great Gatsby deck in Aurora, New York overlooking sunny Cayuga Lake two weeks ago. I brought back two bottles to Toronto. A magical setting and a magical wine I thought or was it just the vista and a beautiful June afternoon? No way! The wine may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!”

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir

So far Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot and 2021 Rosso have failed to impress. Incredibly cheap cork that crumbles whilst opening the bottles. Expectations are low for their 2021 Pinot Noir. Aroma: Thank goodness it smells like Pinot Noir. Off to a roaring start but so far aromas of the Merlot and Rosso have beenContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir”

RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso: The Great Rosso Mystery!

Unfortunately, there is no indication on the label what grapes are used in this red blend Rosso I purchased at the winery this week. Not only that there is no “Rosso” wine on their website but there is a Rosso Cabernet yet its bottle picture does not say “Rosso Cabernet” but “Rosso”. Let’s assume, ifContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Rosso: The Great Rosso Mystery!”