Aroma: This platinum-coloured wine has aromas of mango, peach, white grapefruit, pear and wet stone. Palate: Rather full bodied with some power. It is zippy and a bit cutting but underneath the acidity there is peach, grapefruit and a hint of lychee. Moderate finish. Personality: More cutting and sharper than Italian Pinot Grigio. Food Match:… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Canadian Pinot Gris From Niagara
A friendly juicy and warm Gamay? Aroma: Raspberry rules but there is black cherry and blackberry. None of that excessive alcohol plaguing so many red wines. Inviting. Palate: Blackberry but more acidity than expected but is fine yetbut still worrisome as one expects something softer and fruitier from a Burgundian Gamay. Not much fruit on… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Louis Aîné & Fils Beaujolais-Villages 2022: Riding on the Zip-Line
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 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: Fig,… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont
This red wine is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Aroma: Red cherry, cranberry and raspberry. Palate: Relatively light and dry with low tannins making it an attractive sipper. Strawberry raspberry jam and cactus pear. Moderately long finish. Personality: I am easy going but not a push over. A mere IGT you say but… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Monte Zovo Caligo Veronese 2018
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 some… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club
Geez there is a 97 seal rating on the bottle from Winestate.I may have given a 97 rating a couple of times in 15 years. This must be an exceptional wine as the seal (paid for usually by the producer) never lies….right? Someone is not worthy here and it could well be me! Aroma: Blackberry,… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Stepping Stone Limestone Coast Shiraz: Who is not Worthy?
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 and… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Escaping Ontario COVID Memories
100% Merlot from 50-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in new French oak. The British wine writer Jancis Robinson wrote in February 2023 should 2019 be described as the best Bordeaux vintage ever? Aroma: Subdued and compact with blackberry, black cherry and some vanilla. A skillful use of new French oak as it does not shout… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Château des Landes from Lussac Saint-Émilion
I rated the 2018 vintage an 87. How about this 2020? Aroma: A torrent of blackberry with some blueberry, black cherry and dark chocolate identical descriptors I used for the 2018. Palate: The blackberry in this wine just won’t leave you alone! Blueberry too. A medium length finish. It handles its 15% alcohol well as… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: Quinta Do Espírito Santo from Lisboa
Aroma: Upon opening the wine it stinks of oak. Not fatal if with aeration it dissipates but not the mark of an exceptional wine. Some 20 minutes later the stink has diminished to simply far too much oak. Heck but if you like oaked wine is there a chance? Putting the oak aside or turning… Read More RKS 2024 Wine: A Shiraz/Cab Sauvignon Disaster from Australia’s Limestone Coast or Siberia? A Disgrace to Australian Wine and the Liquor Commission Board of Ontario
Set the Bar 