Another red from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. It is a Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in French and American oak. Aroma: Both black and red cherry offer initial welcoming notes with a deep blackberry and mocha riff. Although comparisons are often odious it reminds one of a Niagara Cabernet FrancContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc”
Tag Archives: Wines of Canada
RKS CANADIAN Wine: Reif Estate’s 2020 Niagara River Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Ontario Cabernet Franc offers wine drinkers excellent results but with Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon it is “Brave New World”. It seldom impresses. What about the REIF Estate 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Ontario’s Niagara River appellation? Aroma: Blueberry, black cherry, licorice and charcoal. Palate: Diffuse and moderate tannins. The intriguing aromas do not migrate to theContinue reading “RKS CANADIAN Wine: Reif Estate’s 2020 Niagara River Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: A Moraine 2022 Cabernet Franc/Merlot from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley
A token British Columbia wine has trickled on to the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). So much noise has been expended in Canada concerning the removal of barriers to interprovincial trade in the face of Trumpian tariffs, but I can’t see a flood of British Columbia wines occupying the LCBO shelvesContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: A Moraine 2022 Cabernet Franc/Merlot from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: From the Hotbed of Canadian Pinot Noir Excellence: Okanagan Falls Stag’s Hollow Pinot Noir
Can I say I have yet to have a Pinot Noir from the Okanagan in British Columbia I haven’t enjoyed? Displaying my loyalty to this geographic area of British Columbia I often wonder why bother to spend your Canadian dollars in a Burgundian Pinot Noir hunt? Stag’s Hollow Pinot Noirs are always a treat toContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: From the Hotbed of Canadian Pinot Noir Excellence: Okanagan Falls Stag’s Hollow Pinot Noir”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Cabernet Franc Ontario’s Great Red Wine Strength: Does a 2027 Cellars Cabernet Franc Carry the Torch?
If you can’t produce a top-notch Cabernet Franc in Ontario you might as well go home. There were 366 cases of 2027 Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc produced. Aroma: On the head of the nail with bright cherry, black cherry, cocoa and cola. Palate: Packs more of a punch than its tender aromas might suggest andContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Cabernet Franc Ontario’s Great Red Wine Strength: Does a 2027 Cellars Cabernet Franc Carry the Torch?”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN WINE: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Renaissance Merlot
Stag’s Hollow Winery celebrates 30 years of British Columbia winemaking in 2025. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the winery has reimagined its Renaissance Merlot 2022 label to feature three exclusive ‘Art Series’ labels, each capturing the essence of the Stag’s Hollow estate in Okanagan Falls, BC. The depiction on each label, created by local artistsContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN WINE: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Renaissance Merlot”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah from Beautiful British Columbia: An Affordable Canadian Côte-Rôtie????
The standard slogan, now gradually disappearing, on British Columbia license plates was “Beautiful British Columbia”. What is not disappearing on the shelves of state monopoly liquor distributor in the province of Ontario (LCBO) are the wines of British Columbia because there were so few of them anyways so not much to disappear. As American winesContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah from Beautiful British Columbia: An Affordable Canadian Côte-Rôtie????”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Queen Bee 2023 Niagara Peninsula Rosé
Ontario rosé is nothing to sneeze at. But I fear I will be stung by the heavy Muscat component of this Queen Bee rosé as Muscat can be very tiresome in blended dry white and rosé with a very notable exception being the rosé wines by Vokakis Winery on the Greek Island of Samos. AContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Queen Bee 2023 Niagara Peninsula Rosé”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Palatine Hills 2023 Viognier
Viognier is a rare grape in Ontario! So with great interest Viognier from Palatine Hills. Aroma: Apricot, peach, Seville marmalade, mango and talcum powder. Palate: Guava, banana and Orri tangerine. Firm. Dry. Big mouthfeel. Long finish. Personality: Don’t be timid about giving me a try. You will not find much of me as a singleContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Palatine Hills 2023 Viognier”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Redstone 2021 Gamay Noir
Aroma: Raspberry, Niagara red cherry and a generous dosage of French oak. Palate: Restrained and tight giving little rein to the raspberry and cherry but not stifling it. Short finish with light and passing tannins. Personality: So if I don’t flaunt my fruit this is a matter of choice and style. Cellarbility: Drink now. FoodContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Redstone 2021 Gamay Noir”
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