William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

"You have not experienced Washington wine or cuisine, until you have enjoyed the Chaleur Blanc with Pacific Northwest seafood." Ah, October in wine country, the leaves are turning colors of fire and sunset. Yes, it is noticeably cooler, I needed a blanket last night to sleep and I find myself wearing a hat indoors. Friends and readers know that this is the time of year I begin to crave Chardonnay. It is my wine of the season. And yet, I find myself drawn this year not to Chardonnay, but to a Sauvignon Blanc dominant white wine. A wine which was difficult to resist drinking in one sitting. A wine made in the Pacific Northwest for Northwest fare. The 2015 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc is styled as a classic Bordeaux blend, with 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Semillon. After more than 20 vintages, the Chaleur Blanc has become a signature wine. I was impressed. Strongly Recommended! A true Pacific Northwest pairing! Tasting Notes Color : Dark Straw. Aroma : Yeas...

A pleasure to review these three current releases from Lauren Ashton Cellars. Two years ago I enjoyed visiting with Lauren Ashton Cellars winemaker Kit Singh at his Woodinville, Washington tasting room. We discussed his wines and philosophy of winemaking while he poured. He's smart, focused, passionate, and earnest about his goals. He makes truly great wines and is still a Dentist first and foremost. Kit Singh and his wife named their Woodinville winery after their children, Ashley Lauren and Ashton Troy. The sophisticated labels on these wines have images reflecting his wife's European and Estonian heritage and culture. With a background in Chemistry, and a DDS, Kit studied viticulture and enology in Seattle and at UC Davis. He interned at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville and even taught wine science at the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College. Lauren Ashton Cellars was established in 2009. Yes, impressed by this guy. Lauren Ashton Cellars Woo...

"A true Washington original." Gordon Estate is located in the heart of the Columbia Valley in Washington State. They are the oldest estate winery in Washington state and use only estate-grown grapes in making their hand-crafted Washington wines. In 1985, Jeff Gordon released his first small lot of Chardonnay wine produced from their estate vines. View of the Snake River from Gordon Estate winery. Gordon Estate, previously known as "Gordon Brothers," has been served at my table for over 25 years. I encourage you to discover the wines of Gordon Estate. A true Washington original. This is a well executed wine which satisfied my Chardonnay craving. Fresh, new world style with minimal oak. My speed. Grab an extra bottle if you have to share. $14.99 Gordon Estate 2014 Chardonnay – Gordon Estate, Pasco, WA. Strongly Recommended. Tasting Notes Color : Gold. Nose : Oh yeah. Terrific hit of Chardonnay, yeasty, nutty, with ginger, pear, fresh....

Just released 21 October 2015 At first taste I knew this would be a "Wine of the Week." Kudos to Josh and Amy Stottlemeyer for producing such an exceptional Washington Malbec. Expect more reviews of Stottle Winery soon. Stottle Winery and main tasting room is located in Lacey, Washington just off I-5 and north of the state capital, Olympia. Thoughts: Ready to drink now. Wonderful with food. Well done. Decanting for an hour showed the elegance and depth of this wine. Don't wait too long to purchase this vintage. Only 110 cases were produced. Strongly Recommended + Wine of the Week . ~.~ Tasting Notes Stottle Winery 2012 Malbec Elerding 6 Prong Vineyards Color: Dark purple. Nose: Candied plum, baking spice, clove, grape bubble yum in background. Palate: Spiced plum, berry spice, chocolate, focused to middle, medium body, cherry on the finish. Tasty at open and ready to go. Enjoyed the finish. After 15 minutes: Savory berry, sandal wood, spice. Wo...

Öküzgözü is one of Turkey’s five most import native grapes.  *Turkish Wine FAQ : It seems appropriate to add this FAQ to the top of this post. New to you varieties from different countries and producers merit clarification. Diren is the winery. Öküzgözü is the grape. Öküzgözü translates as the eye of the bull.  Derives its name from the fact that the fruit has large, black berries that resemble a bull’s eye.  Pronunciation of "Öküzgözü" is similar to: "Oh! + couscous + zoo"  Öküzgözü grape produces light/medium style wines. Often compared to Beaujolais wines. It can be served chilled. Native Turkish varietals include: Öküzgözü , Kalecik, Karasi, Bogazkere, Emir and Narince (first 3 red, last 2 white). These are the five most important native Turkish grapes. Turkey has 800+ indigenous grape varieties - it may be a founder nation for grape domestication around 7,000 years ago. During the long period of the Ottoman Empi...

What's the fuss about Washington state Syrah? In Washington we talk a lot about our affection for Washington Syrah. For us, it's one of those expressive varieties which can show off tremendous fruit, sublime funkiness, sexy floral aromatics, deep flavors and inky color. No one winemaker does Syrah the same. Washington grown Syrah lends itself to wonderful expression. This week I'm recommending you seek out the Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2012 Syrah. With so much going on with this wine, you can no longer excuse yourself from avoiding Washington Syrah. Yes, your tongue will be stained purple. Let me know what you think in the comment section below. I am continually impressed by the quality wine produced by Columbia Crest, I think I just talked myself into bringing another bottle home. Tasting Notes Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2012 Syrah Color : Purple-violet, vibrant. Nose : Earthy, fruity, plum, funk, orange peel, bacon fat, rubbed anise, generally w...

Crowd pleasing style, but not gimmicky. My go to white wine. The Washington Chardonnay I continue to return to is one I have enjoyed over many years. That is, the Chardonnay made by winemaker Rob Griffin of Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland, Washington. I've been a fan since, well, at least before they opened their tasting room in 1997. Rob Griffin was the original winemaker for Preston Cellars, 1979 - 1983, and I started drinking those wines in 1986. Then he was the winemaker and GM for Hogue Cellars 1984 - 1991, which I also started drinking in 1986. Rob and his wife Deborah Barnard created their Barnard Griffin label in 1983, which I started drinking in the early 1990's. For me, Barnard Griffin is synonymous with Washington Wine.  I even worked for Barnard Griffin Winery 2005 - 2007. We have a history. Rob Griffin with daughter Elise. Today Rob is still the winemaker, his older daughter Elise is now the tasting room manager for the winery. His youngest daughte...

Brace yourself, pretty freaking tasty.  My first exposure to the 2012 Fidelitas 4040 was August last year. I stopped by the tasting room on Red Mountain for a special tasting of Cabernet based Fidelitas wines . Chelsea opened and poured for me and did a wonderful job. The wine showed well even though it was opened when I arrived. I've come to realize that my palate, of late, prefers the depth and complexity of red blends. My curiosity about how this vintage would continue to develop the longer it was open was piqued. Fidelitas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain August 28, 2014. Red Mountain AVA and Charlie Hoppes are both well known for producing stunning red wines of depth. Don't miss any opportunity to sample wines made by Mr. Hoppes. And put his Red Mountain Fidelitas tasting room on your must visit list. You owe it to yourself. Wine of the Week Fidelitas 2012 4040. Tasting Notes Fidelitas 2012 4040 Red Wine Color : Dark, black cherry skin. Nose : ...

"Drink me." Alice never had it so good. This is a wine we often serve at home parties. We drink it, so I never have a chance to review a bottle. This week I took time for tasting notes and reflection. Glad I did, and I discovered it is popular with many friends. I'll have to buy more for the next party. “The Mad Hatter: "Would you like some wine?" Alice: "Yes..." The Mad Hatter: "We haven't any and you're too young.”  ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Tasting Notes Dunham Cellars 2011 Trutina : Color : Plum red/purple. Nose : Earthy cherry, nice spike of violets, pencil, white pepper, rose petal. Palate : Lovely at first taste, fluid cherry cordial, root beer hard candy, orange zest in background, lifted finish, graceful. Big Like. After 15 minutes : Black cherry, brown sugar, pepper mill, ginger bread, root beer, orange cordial aromas. Cherry cordial, delicate tannin on the tongue and gums, vanilla, brown sugar/ca...

A Definitive Walla Walla Red Wine with Presence. L’Ecole has been producing wines from Seven Hills Vineyard since 1993. They hand-select from the oldest and best blocks to produce this flagship wine. Perigee : When the moon is at Perigee , closest distance to the Earth, there is more gravitational pull which contributes to higher tides or greater variation in the high and low tide. An aptly named wine, I could feel the "pull" of the 2011 Perigee. Worthy of " Wine of the Week " recognition. Well done. Tasting Notes 2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee Color : Dark burgundy. Nose : Spicy, dried cherry, chocolate, tea. Palate : Cherry-chocolate, spicy oak, black tea tannin, light chocolate, dry on the gums. Interesting at open and rather tasty. After 15 minutes : Richer, fuller, more intense on the palate. Delivered a lot of pleasure. Would be an excellent choice for entertaining or eating out at a nice restaurant. After 30 minutes : Chocolate spice, blac...

My first Oregon Malbec. Loved it! This is the first-ever LIVE Certified wine from Silvan Ridge Winery. Their 2011 Malbec, sourced exclusively from Gold Vineyards in Talent, Oregon. LIVE stands for "Low Input Viticulture & Enology" and refers to the practice of reducing the amount of raw materials (inputs such as pesticides, fertilizer, water, chemicals, fuel, etc.) used in vineyard and winery production. Silvan Ridge Winery was founded in the southern Willamette Valley near Eugene, Oregon in 1979, They are best known for their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and an effervescent Early Muscat. Hello Malbec. "Yaba Daba Doo!" This Oregon Malbec impressed. I encourage you find this wine and enjoy it with your best friends. Add Silvan Ridge Winery to my list, and yours, of must visit Oregon wineries. Well done. Definitely a Wine of the Week ! Need to find more of this wine. Tasting Notes Silvan Ridge Winery 2011 Malbec: Nose : Soft, with ...

The Delight of Valdo Time! Who doesn't like bubbles in their wine? There are many styles of sparkling wine made around the world. Myself, I like them all, but there are wines with bubbles which deliver more than casual amusement and refreshment. This pretty Rose' from Valdo surprised me with its depth of character and delivered satisfaction. It is deserving of a Wine of the Week . Prosecco is an Italian sparkling dry wine made primarily from Glera grapes. Principally grown in the Prosecco region of Italy, which includes Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, north of Venice in the Vento region. Under European law, only sparkling wines made with grapes grown in this region can have the name Prosecco. This bottle is labeled "Vino Spumante." Spumante is typically a sweet bubbly wine, this is not that wine. The Scuola Spumanti Valdo (Valdo School of Sparkling Wines) is a result of Valdo’s knowledge of the territory and ongoing oenological and technological research. ...

Can you fall in love with a wine? A wine worth pondering. Gordon Estate is located in the heart of the Columbia Valley in Washington State. They are the oldest estate winery in Washington State and use only estate-grown grapes in making their hand-crafted Washington wines. In 1980, Jeff Gordon, along with his wife, Vicki and brother Bill decided to plant wine grapes on a sagebrush-covered slope overlooking the Snake River in southeastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. In 1985, he released his first small lot of Chardonnay wine produced from their estate vines. Gordon Estate, previously known as "Gordon Brothers," has been served at my table for over 25 years. I encourage you to discover the wines of Gordon Estate. A true Washington original. Tasting Notes : Color : Dark garnet to plum. Nose : Spicy with cumin, black currant, licorice, gingerbread, cherry cordial, complex with a lot going on, background with hints of savory vegetal and dark chocolate. Layered...