Becky Sue Epstein

Meditation Wine-Tasting?? A New Experience with Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs

May 29, 2020

Searching for calmness in these times, when I heard about “meditation tasting” from the folks at Champagne Henriot, I immediately decided to try it. Then it occurred to me I might already be pretty relaxed if I...

Versatile Napa Cab: 2017 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Becky Sue Epstein

May 22, 2020

Tasting Notes

A versatile and extremely enjoyable Napa Cab in a post-modern style: not a fruit-bomb and not over-oaked. Plummy blackberry aromas with the heat of the sun-baked earth in the aroma, also notes of cocoa, leat...

Actually, What is Vermouth?

Becky Sue Epstein

May 14, 2020

Features

To celebrate Vermouth Day, I decided to open a couple bottles of La Pivón from Madrid. But maybe I should talk about what Vermouth is, before I get specific about this one. Because I’ve found that most people d...

Pink Wine and Proud of It: Chiaretto, the Dry Rose Winé from Northern Italy

Becky Sue Epstein

May 1, 2020

Features

Now that we are all drinking rosé wine year-round, you’ll want to hear about this lesser-known, wonderfully dry and minerally rosé from the north of Italy: Chiaretto. Late last fall, in search of Chiaretto, ...

NV Faire La Fête Brut Crémant de Limoux

Becky Sue Epstein

April 24, 2020

Tasting Notes

I approached this sparkling wine with a bit of skepticism – but it was completely unfounded. First, I was leery of the name “Faire La Fête” which means “to party.” Second, I have never heard of this producer...

2019 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Rosé

Becky Sue Epstein

April 18, 2020

Tasting Notes

This is a dry rosé made in California, from the sangiovese grape; the same grape made famous by Italian wines like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The wine is a clear, light ta...

Rosé of Sangiovese?

Becky Sue Epstein

April 18, 2020

Features

2019 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Rosé This dry rosé is something different: it’s made in Napa, California, from sangiovese – the grape you know from classic Italian wines such as Chianti and Brunello. It ...

Versatile Value Wine: 2016 Raimat “Pirinenca” Tempranillo

Becky Sue Epstein

March 11, 2020

Tasting Notes

Having been told this was an extremely versatile Tempranillo, I decided to put it to the test at our local library's potluck dinner this week – and it’s true. Tasted beforehand, the wine began with sweet fruit ...

Arizona Wine: Just the Facts

Cantina Tollo: Organic, Inexpensive & Delicious

Bordeaux Life: Book Review

Women and Wine in Burgundy, Revisited

Türk Grüner Veltliner Eiswein

2018 Cedar + Salmon Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley

Plush and Forward Thinking: 2018 Alma Rosa Winery La Encantada Blanc

To Drink before Dinner: 2017 Ron Rubin Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

A Good Choice for a Warm Evening: 2106 Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna Rosso

A Red Blend and a Resort: 2018 Herdade Dos Grous Red

2014 Carmin Reguengos Garrafeira Dos Sócios