Wine – Page 4 – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS 2024 Wine: Malivoire’s Courtney Gamay from Niagara

Many ex-Canada readers are certainly familiar with Niagara Falls as one of Canada’s primo tourist sites. But how many realize Niagara Falls is surrounded by a virtual waterfall of wineries producing world class red, white, sparkling and ice wines. 20 minutes from the Falls, if that, wine country abounds with wineries many of which haveContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Malivoire’s Courtney Gamay from Niagara”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Chilean Pinot Noir That Takes No Prisoners

I rather thought 2024 would be Chile’s year for moderately priced red wine dominance not so much in volume exported but quality wise. We try a San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2021. Aroma: Dense and muscular as its less than delicate Pinot Noir dark ruby colour suggests. Black plum, blackberry, black cherry and cherryContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Chilean Pinot Noir That Takes No Prisoners”

RKS 2024 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely a Stinker

Approachable, friendly and easy drinking are the monikers of Valpolicella. Monikers of course are made to be broken, ignored or tampered with. 45% Corvina. 30% Corvione. 20% Rondinella. Aged 12-18 months in large oak barrels. We take this statement to the test with a 2021 Sartori Valpolicella. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, plum, raspberry and milkContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely a Stinker”

RKS 2024 Wine: Burly Barossa?

Think Aussie Red Barossa think burly? Full bodied but not overly aggressive? Crowd friendly? Too much alcohol? Destination wine lake? Looking for a dainty red from Barossa? Are you hallucinating? Or are we here in Canada suffering with liquor monopoly purchases that are safe from a profit perspective. Is there more than “easy Barossa”? IContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Burly Barossa?”

RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Gamay Comeback in Ontario?

Was it a decade or so ago that Gamay in Ontario looked like the next oenological prince of the Ontario wine kingdom? Then it faded like Harry and Meaghan and then made a comeback like Camilla? No discussions please on royalty who in Canada are seen as ready to meet the fate of Marie AntoinetteContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Great Gamay Comeback in Ontario?”

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”