William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Today I will be writing to catch up on all the delicious wine I experienced this weekend. Briefly, this is what went down. Checking the glasses before I begin pouring. Friday – AntoLin Cellars Sensory Tasting I conducted a private wine tasting and sensory class lunch, featuring AntoLin Cellars Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Review soon. Ed Luebben at the Wine Incubators. Saturday – Walla Walla Spring Barrel Tasting Went Walla Walla wine tasting with my friend, winery Architect Edward Luebben. We visited Leonetti Cellars, Corvus Cellars, Cavu Cellars, aMaurice Cellars and Garrison Creek Cellars. Review soon. Virtual tasting at L'Ecole Winery - it was an actual tasting for us. Sunday- L'Ecole 41 Perigee Vertical Tasting My friend Ben Simons, wine blogger at Vinotology.com , joined me for a vertical tasting at L'Ecole No 41 . This was a virtual and an actual tasting at the winery. They poured from their library the 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 20...

Garrison Creek Cellars announces the release of their 2007 Zinfandel! Last year, I visited Walla Walla during Spring Release weekend. Garrison Creek Cellars was the highlight of my visit - see article ( Garrison Creek Cellars ). I just received notice that Garrison Creek Cellars is releasing their 2007 Zinfandel. I'm spreading the word, this is your opportunity to take this marvelous wine home. Winery Supplied Note (more below): "This wine’s toasty vanilla and bright raspberry characteristics will lend themselves beautifully to bittersweet chocolates."   It is their second Zinfandel ever released, and they are quite proud of it. Limited quantities of this wine and all purchases are first-come, first-served.  This wine can be purchased directly through the winery via email, or over the phone at (509) 525-7377.  Pricing, case discount, and tasting notes are included below. Also, the first ever release of Garrison Creek Cellars Library wines.   If you ...

We celebrated the new year with good friends and good wine. Washington wine of course. The evening began with a  bottle of   Pacific Rim White Flower Sparkling Riesling  ( reviewed here ). The next wine we enjoyed, was the  Heaven's Cave Cellars  2005 Cabernet Sauvignon .  Heaven's Cave Cellars is a for-benefit winery that chooses to donate a portion of its profits from wine sales to cover 100% of the operating expenses of the Make the DASH Count Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to both developing the next generation of community leaders and benefiting at-risk youth.  The Foundation uses hands-on grantmaking to introduce high-school students to the joys and challenges of philanthropy.  By serving on community-based  youth boards, students learn about the fiscal literacy, community awareness and thoughtful decision-making necessary to act as stewards of the foundation's grantmaking process, annually awarding grant monies to prog...

Wake Me Up Walla Walla Two years working for a winery instilled a lot of confidence in my palate. Not that I did not enjoy wine before then, it just confirmed for me that I know what I like and I like good wine. At least that is, until last year. Last year I lived in a Muslim country, with minimal access to wine. So what could a Washington wine drinker do, when he can’t personally purchase Washington wine, or any wine? Making Do Without Wine Interestingly, I became fascinated by Middle Eastern perfumes and incense (Bakhoor). The range of styles and exotic aromas fascinated my Western senses ( see my post on UAE perfumes here ). After returning to Washington State, I noticed that my focus on perfume and incense had a negative effect on my wine appreciation. Syrah, once my go to, drink any day varietal, just no longer toots my horn. In general, I find Syrah too acidic to appreciate. Sadly, my enthusiasm for wine also became rather subdued. Difficult to believe, I know. Should I...