Finding great Ontario Cabernet Franc is not that difficult. The same can’t be said for Merlot. Most of the time it is bland. Merlot from Niagara’s Two Sisters and Featherstone Estate are bright beacons for Ontario Merlot. So what about the 2021 Merlot from Riverview Estate Winery? The back label states it has been agedContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Ontario Merlot Search Continues: Riverview Estate Winery 2021 Merlot”
Tag Archives: wine-tasting
RKS 2024 Wine: Blackboard Merlot from Washington State: A Berlin Wall Merlot?
Many Washington State Merlots are not afraid to have a little bath in oak. It gives Merlot a pleasing to everyone aura. I had a Konstantin Frank Merlot in the Finger Lakes recently and it had a good dose of oak in it. My dining companion, no lover of red wine, enthused about how “approachable”Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Blackboard Merlot from Washington State: A Berlin Wall Merlot?”
RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont
As Italian wine goes hear “Barbera” think Piedmont with the best Barbera wine being produced near the towns of Asti and Alba. Barbera is Piedmont’s most widely planted variety and technically takes third place in prestige to Barolo and Barbaresco. Often prestige and palate are incompatible. We try a Barbera D’Asti from Michele Chiarlo. Aroma:Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont”
RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club
I am in the wine bleachers as a bleacher bum misbehaving and throwing empty wine bottles at poor performers. Luca Maroni is consistently rating most wines as close to perfection. I mean here is a 99 rated red wine. It is no Bordeaux first growth but a Rosso IGT from Puglia. Is it at someContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club”
RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
There are 11 Finger Lakes in New York all narrow enough to be reminiscent of fingers. Cayuga Lake is one of the lakes. For many wine drinkers in the United States and Canada accessibility to Finger Lake wine is minimal. The Finger Lakes are easily accessible by road. The trip would be 5 hours fromContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail”
RKS 2024 Wine: Lemberger from Hosmer in New York’s Finger Lakes: Not the Stinky Limberger!: A Wine That Compels Thought
I was in Aurora, New York last week staying at the Inns of Aurora on Cayuga Lake. Up north then travelling southwest I arrived at Hosmer Winery in Ovid, New York. Yes I said Ovid and not COVID! And I tried a 2021 Lemberger wine not to be confused with Limberger cheese! And to furtherContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Lemberger from Hosmer in New York’s Finger Lakes: Not the Stinky Limberger!: A Wine That Compels Thought”
RKS 2024 Wine: Escaping Ontario COVID Memories
I recall that during COVID times I went for a tasting with Ed Madronich at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, Ontario. Those were eerie times. Can you imagine 50 people at Niagara Falls! Over the years Ed has produced quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and I suppose it is time to escape COVID memories andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Escaping Ontario COVID Memories”
RKS 2024 Wine: Au Revoir to South African Funkiness? Brainwashed or Cured?
My first wine show a few years ago was the New York Wine Expo at the Javitz Convention Center. It was something to be excited about. After focusing on Brazilian wines near the end of my few hours there I headed for the exit but being the dedicated newbie, I decided to breeze through theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Au Revoir to South African Funkiness? Brainwashed or Cured?”
RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone’s Canadian Cabernet Franc
Not willing to speak in absolutes but chances are a Cabernet Franc from Ontario seldom steers you off the cliff but don’t let me be your GPS on this! We try a Featherstone 2020 Cabernet Franc from Ontario’s Niagara region. 2129 cases mean an ample supply for domestic consumption.5% Merlot in the blend. Aged inContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Featherstone’s Canadian Cabernet Franc”
RKS 2024 Wine: An Argentinian Red Blend from the End of the World
Odds are if you are at the end of the world conditions could be such one cares more about surviving than drinking an excellent wine? I have been to the end of the world in Portugal but not in Argentinian Patagonia. In a fancy, possibly gimmicky and monstrously heavy bottle, we have a blend ofContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: An Argentinian Red Blend from the End of the World”
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