William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Some wines just taste like home. You know that question? The one where you're asked, " If you were stranded on a desert island, and had only one wine to drink, every day, which wine would it be ?" My first response is always, " Champagne! " and my second response, " Washington Syrah! " Syrah, Washington Syrah, offers a tremendous amount of complexity, in aromatics and flavors. Washington Syrah is reflective of place, and shows a tremendous amount of variation from vineyard to vineyard site. So, don't expect all Washington Syrah's to taste the same. They don't! And I believe that's good. I love the diversity of styles, and even the nuance of some of the blends being produced. This wine today hit my sweet spot, particularly on day one. The 2015 Charles Smith Wines Boom Boom Syrah is exceptionally good. Even better at a reasonable retail price below $20. Plus, it tastes of Washington, it tastes of home. And it was difficult not...

Showing well today, with even better potential. Whenever I drive to work in Prosser, I pass the extensive Goose Ridge estate vineyards. The production facility is visible in the background from the highway. Their local tasting room is on Dallas Road in Richland. A cozy place, with a Bocce ball court and a wide open lawn perfect for events and sunsets. "I strongly recommend purchasing a case or two for your home..." Goose Ridge Vineyards was founded by the Monson Family in 1999. Goose Ridge is an estate winery dedicated to handcrafting wines from grapes grown on their 2,200 acre vineyard. This is the first Goose Ridge  g3 I have experienced made by Winemaker Andrew Wilson. I have previously enjoyed the Tall Sage wines he makes too. It is always a pleasure to drink and review Goose Ridge wines. I've been enjoying them for almost two decades. I hope the g3 Cabernet Sauvignon is available where you live, so you can enjoy it too. With 12 years previous winema...

It was almost impossible to review this wine. My wife kept taking the bottle. Reviewing the Delille Cellars 2015 Chaleur Blanc white wine was challenging. I should mention that I first reviewed the 2015 vintage in October of 2016 . Loved it then too. This time, I thought I'd share with my wife while I was taking notes. Mistake? Before I knew it, half the bottle was gone, and I was only just started on my notes! "Truly a Northwest classic!" I had to hide the bottle just to save some wine for my day two notes and for photographs. She loved the Chaleur Blanc! Note to self, " Delille Cellars Chaleur Blanc is now one of my wife's favorite wines. Don't forget. " That is strong recommendation for this wine. From both of us! 2015 Chaleur Blanc by Delille Cellars. Tasting Notes Nose : Delicious toast, white flower, minerality, citrus. Palate : Good weight, creaminess, tart citrus and toast, lime skin, nice spike of acid mid-palate, leaned ...

Drink Washington State 2014 Walla Walla Carmenere is all about comfort food. I've been a fan of Walla Walla winemaker Brad Binko and his wines for two years. His first label is " Eternal Wines " his second label is " Drink Washington State ." Both labels are reflective of his passion for wine and quality winemaking. Winemaker Brad Binko pouring for guests. Brad also has a cool, not to miss tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. You will find he's not only a passionate winemaker, but also very into music. He brings in live music weekly to his tasting room. So, if you want to enjoy wonderful wines and cool music, his tasting room is the place to be. "It is key to remember that Carmenere is spicy and should be treated as a condiment or seasoning. So be careful when seasoning your food.." Over the last two years, I have also become if not fond, at least I've begun to understand and embrace Carmenere. Especially, Carmenere done the W...

Planning a trip to Walla Walla? Eternal Wines must be on your itinerary.  Over the last year, I have come to know winemaker Brad Binko of Eternal Wines and Drink Washington State. He is talented, friendly and supremely dedicated to Washington wine. You can taste the passion in every bottle of wine Brad makes. Last month I visited with Brad in his downtown Walla Walla tasting room. Located on 1st Avenue, half a block from Main Street, and two doors down from a tasty cupcake bakery. Easy to find, and full of delicious wines and light. You can't miss visiting this cool space. Brad Binko, Eternal Wines, pouring rose' for guests. Mr. Binko has a full set of wines available to taste and purchase at his tasting room. I'll get into more detail about Brad and some of his other wines in a future post. When you drop by his tasting room, tell him Wild 4 Washington Wine sent you. Check out their  website  as they host special tastings and sometimes have live music. ...

Quick update. Just wanted to touch base and let everyone know that I am still enmeshed in the Washington wine industry. Pouring and sharing my passion for wine almost daily. Whew...busy, but having a great deal of fun. You can see my daily wine interactions on my Instagram . Winemaker Brad Binko sharing his Eternal Rose'. Eager to share my conversation with Walla Walla Winemaker Brad Binko of Eternal Wines and Drink Washington State. More soon. Just need a little quiet time to gather my words. Cheers!

Big bang for the buck here friends. Master winemaker Rob Griffin brought out the big guns for this wine;  Counoise, Cinsault, Durif,  Grenache, and Mourvedre. This is no ordinary Washington wine. 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. These were some of my best experiences. Period. It also pushed me to learn more about wine. I strongly recommend seeking out the Barnard Griffin 2013 Cotes du Rob. Tasting Notes 2013 Cotes du Rob Red Wine Barnard Griffin Winery Color : Plum, cranberry highlights. Nose : Engaging, cranberry, pomegranate, breath of fresh earth, orange peel, graphite. Palate : Pleasant weight, bright, red berry flavors, dusted with light spice, electric on the tongue, modest spicy finish. Shy, friendly opening. 15 minutes : Soft berry and spice on the nose, a touch of armpit odeur. Très European....

 “Find a Tall Sage and you have found a place that will sustain superior grape vines.” Dr. Walter Clore. The Tall Sage label is the Monson Family’s tribute to a man of great stature, the founder of Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards , Arvid Monson. A tall sage is one that develops deep tap roots. I have been a fan of Gooseridge wines for many years. 2015 was one of the hotest growing seasons on record. The consistent heat developed sugar in the fruit quickly in many grape varieties. Canopy management was key to protecting the fruit from heat and sun. De-leafing and deficit irrigation was moderated during this vintage to allow the vines to cope with the hot growing season. The 2015 Tall Sage Chardonnay is ready to drink now. The 2015 Tall Sage Cabernet Sauvignon drank better on day two and could use another 6 months of bottle age to hit my sweet spot. Both Recommended . Tasting Notes 1. Review Tall Sage 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley AVA Color : Straw, green highli...

"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...

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...

Be nice to your wine hostess and ask her questions about the wine and winery. Part of an ongoing series on visiting Washington wine country. Are you going wine tasting?  Here's what you need to know when visiting a winery tasting room. 1. Wine Tasting is not Drinking Going wine tasting it is about tasting wine, not drinking. Some people you bump into at the wineries are going for volume - bad form. 2. Tasting Fee Many wineries do have a tasting room fee of about $5. Be prepared to pay to taste - be thankful if the winery you visit has no tasting fee (some wineries discount the tasting fee from your purchase - bonus). A modest tasting fee does help defray the cost of pouring wine - it also helps to discourage those out just for a buzz. Ask questions and enjoy. 3. Ask Questions If you are going to the effort of visiting wine country, then ask questions while you are at the winery. Who made the wine? What is in the bottle? How old is the winery?  Etc. This is ...