William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

How good are the wines of Bodegas LAN?  So good, I’m watching Spanish TV shows and movies to improve my Castillano. A trip to Spain is in my future. I must visit. I must. I’m thrilled to share with you what I have learned about the wines of Bodegas LAN  from Rioja, Spain. These wines were a joy to drink and pair with food. Tasting notes follow. Wine with Food Please My preference for wine has been gently shifting towards food friendly wines. When I taste a wine from a producer I don't know, or a new release from a winery I do know, my first thought is, “ What would I pair with this wine? ” I've learned that the Bodegas LAN wines scream to me, “ Enjoy me with food! ” Boy howdy, do they deliver. While I’ve been drinking wine for decades, four if I’m honest, It’s only since 2005 that I’ve done so with true focus and attention. Working at a winery will tend to do that. My fascination with cooking also parallels my focus on wine. I’ve learned a lot about food and win...

The Ministry of Time/El Ministerio Del Tiempo History is under threat. Someone is attempting to alter the past. In response, a secret government organization is working to protect the sanctity of time. This group is the Ministry of Time. Agents of the ministry, are able to travel to different times and places via a deep well of stairs located in Madrid, Spain. From these stairs, innumerable doorways branch off to different periods of the past. Agents are recruited from other time periods, they work diligently to protect the history of Spain. And we get to go along for the thrilling ride. I’m changing up things today by recommending my favorite Spanish TV series. I found it accidentally, now I'm hooked. Improving my Spanish language comprehension Among my self-improvement efforts, there are many, one is to enhance my comprehension and speaking abilities of the Spanish language. With a neglected minor in Spanish, I’m embarrassed to have forgotten so much vocabulary and...

Spanish wines shall always have a special meaning for me. Author: William Pollard Do you remember the last time you visited with your best friend? The meal you shared, the place, the wine? This is a self-indulgent post, but I’m sharing it because the sentiment and revelation are sincere. And I need to sleep at night. I have an obsession with Spanish wines. I don’t talk of it, but I have wondered to myself, "Where does this attraction come from?" Could there be an underlying impulse which draws me to the Iberian Peninsula? Some clarity emerged recently while reading .  “Twirled on a fork and lifted to the mouth, they whisper secrets. This, you tell yourself, is a flavor one shouldn’t speak of.”  Anthony Bourdain,  Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook One of my Father’s Day gifts was the book “ Medium Raw ” by Anthony Bourdain. I’m fond of how Mr. Bourdain puts words together. His style is in a word, "picante"...

There's something elusive in this wine, an aroma and a flavor which I can't quite pin down. The mystery appeals to me and makes this wine all the more captivating. Regular readers may realize by now that I'm a fan of Tempranillo. So it should be no surprise that I like Spanish wines. This Rioja is made from a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano grapes. About Graciano The high-acidity of the Graciano grape makes it a good companion for blending with low-acid varieties like Tempranillo . Although considered a high-quality grape, grown primarily in Rioja and Navarra, it is low yielding, which is prompting some Spanish growers to replace this varietal with more productive vines. In France Graciano is known as Morrastel . I found this Rioja pleasingly medium dry, with medium body, and a medium finish. With a subtle nose, this smooth drinking wine has developed into an enjoyable, ready to drink now wine. It should pair well with grilled or smoked meats and is suitable for ...

We've had cooler than usual weather in Washington state this season. It should feel like summer, but it still feels like early Spring. My son had his final baseball game today (a chilly game yesterday in the wind and rain). And surpise, suprise, I've been enjoying Spanish wines for a change of pace. As much as I love Washington wine, it is fun and healthy to explore wines from around the world. You can blame my cousin José for tuning me into Spanish wines in April. Which Spanish wines have I been enjoying? Tempranillo wines from Spain. Tempranillo is THE indiginous varietal from Spain. Tempranillo is grown in many places in Spain, from southern Spain, the Penedes, Ribera del Duero to Rioja. It does very well when grown in high-altitude vineyards. And it enjoys a wide range of flavor and styles - which is what toots my horn. Tempranillo is also known as, Cencibal, Tinto de Madrid, Tinta de Pais, Tinta de Toro, Tinto Fino and Ull de Llebre. My most memorable Tempranillo experienc...