William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Displays of gold, orange and red leaves in the vineyards foretell cooler weather. Blankets of clouds, emergent, protectively hug the Horse Heaven Hills. As the progressively shorter days and longer nights nestle into fall, I crave Chardonnay. For me, Chardonnay is the wine of choice for this season. Clouds forming on the Horse Heaven Hills. Today, I have six recommended Washington Chardonnays which are suitable for your fall repasts and celebratory occasions. Chardonnay remains the most popular white wine variety for a reason. Because it can be so darn good and affordable too. It is a variety which can be expressed in numerous ways, nutty, fruity, dry, oaked, unoaked, crisp and pale to heavy and dark. A supremely expressible and food compatible wine. For the ABC partisans, think of these recommended wines as conversion therapy. Don't behave like the elusive White Zinfandel drinker. Give Chardonnay another try, Washington Chardonnay that is. You can thank me later. Chee...

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...

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...

Adamant Cellars tasting room is out near the Walla Walla airport. The first time I visited with them they were out at the Wine Incubators . So happy that they now have their own facility. I've been holding on to this and it is past time to open and review. Cool label too.  Winemaker Devin Stinger on Release Weekend. Make plans for Release Weekend   April 3 - 5, 2015 Walla Walla,  10:00am – 5:00pm Visit the Adamant Cellars tasting room for a weekend of outstanding new and current releases. Featured Walla Walla Valley Varietals: 2014 Bijoux and Albariño, 2011 Nalin and Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 Artisan Syrah, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc. Check them out on your next visit to Walla Walla. Tasting Notes 2012 Bijoux: Color : Palest straw, almost silver. Nose : Tropical, yeast, river rock, fresh spring rain, white peach, pineapple. Palate : Creamy, crisp, nice weight, stone fruit, tingle way in the back of the mouth, peach, focused with a l...

The February Virtual Tasting Featured this month was the Saviah Cellars 2012 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley. This wine retails for $18 and is widely available. The tasting took place on twitter, Thursday, February 26th, from 7-8 pm Pacific. What you needed to participate in this virtual tasting: 1. Buy this month’s wine from the winery or a local retailer 2. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8 pm Pacific on the specified date using the hashtag #saviah. For those on Twitter, follow @wawinereport. Check Washington Wine Report for future virtual tastings. We discussed aromas, flavors, label design, price, availability and general thoughts. Most participants rated this wine a "BUY" after an hour of tasting and tweeting, especially at the price. Tasting Notes 2012 Saviah Cellars THE JACK Color : Ruby purple. Nose : Cherry, sharpened pencil. Palate : Fruit, dark plum, cherry, brambly, coffee, smooooth, only a little tin...

Barnard Griffin has a new look. One of my favorite jobs was working for the family owned Barnard Griffin Winery. Hand-selling wine, meeting and greeting visitors from around the world and sharing stories of Washington wine were some of my best experiences. Period. It also pushed me to learn more about wine. I'm still learning. You are encouraged to stop by their expanded tasting room when you visit SE Washington. New Griffin label and original Tulip label at the grocer. It is always with pleasure when I see a bottle from one of my favorite local wineries. As with all things familiar, there is eventually change. Barnard Griffin Winery dropped their familiar, friendly tulip label design last year. They have decided to embrace the Griffin logo on their label. My thoughts? It does look classier and it presents well. The new label seems to make the bottle look bigger too. I miss the friendly tulip label, but I am adapting to the change. I can only hope that in future they do...

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon for less than $10? Looking for an affordable, celebratory July 4th Cabernet Sauvignon? Put the Columbia Crest Two Vines 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon - Columbia Valley on the label, on your list. Very pleased at the quality of this Washington Cabernet Sauvignon for the price. Fire up the grill and start pulling corks! * See the note below about Columbia Crest being removed from the Two Vines label. Tasting Notes Columbia Crest Two Vines 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Color: Dark ruby. Nose: Cherry, candied, pencil lead, spicy leather, orange notes. Palate: Mouth filling cherry pie, medium light body, medium short finish. It was dry and easy drinking. Surprised how well I liked it.  BIG flavor after an hour, medium body, medium finish, moderate acidity,  cherry, currant, plum, orange on the finish. Thoughts: Most of the action was on the nose and finish. Watery mid-palate, but the finish kept it solid. Big bang for the price! Re...

June 2014 Virtual Wine Tasting Monday 30 June 2014 was the monthly Virtual Tasting on twitter hosted by Sean Sullivan of Washington Wine Report . The featured wine was the A to Z Wineworks 2012 Oregon Chardonnay. We used #AtoZwine for our tweets. Yes, Oregon makes more than Pinot Noir. This wine was well received by all Virtual Tasting participants. I'm eager to try more A to Z wines. “We’ve grown to become Oregon’s largest winery while following economically and environmentally sound and sustainable practices,” said Deb Hatcher, founder and chief marketing and sales officer at A to Z Wineworks /Rex Hill, in a release. Source: Portland Business Journal, "A to Z Wineworks becomes first winery to achieve top green honors" by Andy Giegerich, June 19, 2014 Tasting Notes A to Z 2012 Oregon Chardonnay Color: Straw, green highlights Nose: Delicate honeysuckle, mineral, summer morning rain on slate patio, lime. After 25 minutes pineapple and banana appear...

This time of year I crave Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc in its many aspects delights and refreshes. My first choice for tempering the heat of summer is a dry, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. A versatile wine, Sauvignon Blanc can be enjoyed with company on the patio, or at table with seafood, poultry and even grilled lamb. I recently participated in a tasting of four Sauvignon Blancs provided by my friends at  Pasternak Wine Imports . They delighted. It is truly Sauvignon Blanc season. Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2013 New Zealand When I think Sauvignon Blanc, I immediately think New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I also think Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc - Dashwood is one of the wines responsible for my  New Zealand wine epiphany  two years ago. Color: Pale straw with green highlights. Nose: Heady, mineral, grapefruit, grass, lime. Palate: Zing, fresh, vibrant, grapefruit, lime, kiwi. I'm alive! With long mineral, dry, kiwi and lime finish. KerPow! This wine held up beautiful...