William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Are you New Zealand wine experienced?  There is a reason I became of fan of New Zealand wine. New Zealand Pinot Noir turned my head and grabbed my attention by its aspects of quality. Namely, the captivating complexity of aroma, flavor and unique expression of terroir. Yes, I have a soft spot for New Zealand Pinot Noir. In 2012 I started a New Zealand wine blog with Julie Crompe. We call it "Kiwi Daydreaming" which reflects our passion for New Zealand wine and a mutual desire (daydream) to travel New Zealand. Sadly, we don't receive many bottles of New Zealand wine to keep the blog very active. Until today! This time of year is associated with love and romance. What better way to celebrate the occasion than with a delicious bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir? Impressive at open and even better as it breathed, it was a sincere pleasure to review this lovely New Zealand wine from Loveblock Vintners Ltd . Above the snow capped mountains of Central Otago, on the ...

As eager as I am to start writing about 2016, I feel compelled to reflect on my 2015 wine experiences and writing efforts. Last year was full of wonderful conversations and many bottles of wine. It was also a year of change. My sincerest thanks to everyone I interacted with and for the discussions revolving around wine. I look forward to an exciting and tasty 2016. - William ~.~ 1. January This month featured my most personal post of 2015. A Resolution For Greek Wine, A Recipe For Avgolemeno #WinePW8 @DOMAINESKOURAS In January, I wrote about Emmanuel Brokos. He was from the island of Crete and my step-grandfather. There were several reasons why I wrote about him. For one, it was for the 8th Wine Pairing Weekend twitter session #WinePW . We were tasked to write about a wine region we wanted to explore along with a related recipe and wine. The Greek wine I chose was very good. The Avgolemeno chicken soup was wonderful and the recipe was fun to follow. The story about my...

A lovely package full of wonderful items.  To my pleasure, I recently received a gift box with a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, two Schott Zwiesel Sauvignon Blanc wine glasses and six Wine Gems by RabLabs. I've included my tasting notes on the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and my thoughts on the wine glasses and Wine Gems. I always appreciate the gift of wine. "This wine sang." Kim Crawford has partnered with luxury home goods company ANNA New York by RabLabs to create the Kim Crawford Wine Gems by RabLabs – a stylish re-imagining of the "whiskey stone" for wine. Using the natural beauty of fluorite stone, when frozen these limited-edition wine gems are designed to keep a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc chilled for up to an hour without diluting the wine’s vibrant flavors. "Blending beauty and function, the Kim Crawford Wine Gems by RabLabs are a chic alternative to ice and transform an ordinary glass of wine into an extr...

French sparkling wine is not always Champagne. Though just as good.  "...à votre santé!" As promised, I have more wines to recommend for your seasonal celebratory gatherings. Today I am recommending two sparkling wines from France. They are not Champagne. They are Crémant d'Alsace made by the Albrecht family in Northeastern France. The history of the Albrecht family as winegrower can be traced back to 1425 with Romanu Albrecht, who was settled in the town of Thann. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century in Thann, several generations of Albrecht were elected as Bangard vinegrowers. Lucien Albrecht pioneered Crémant production in 1971 and helped gain an Appellation Contrôlêe for the wine and for Alsace. The wines are vinified in the classic Champagne Method. Toast the season and share the history of Crémant d'Alsace with bottles of crisp, sparkling Lucien Albrecht. Share your appreciation with friends and welcome the new year in style with French bubble...

How is it only a week until Christmas?  This time of year always runs away from me. As you rush to finish your holiday shopping and finalize plans for celebrating the new year, 2016 my friends, I have many different wine recommendations suitable for these special occasions. Case in point. Sparkling wine is the perfect beverage for the holidays. And what goes better with celebrations than bubbles? I have become a big fan of Prosecco. Especially Prosecco made by Valdo Spumanti in Italy. When you pop open a bottle of bubbles, life is good. As I've learned, good bubbles do not have to be expensive. Valdo Prosecco offers one of the best values in sparkling wine and they are widely available. Below I list three sparklers from Valdo Spumanti Srl. I have listed then in order of my preference. These wines are outstanding values, typically priced around $15 retail. Go and celebrate with good cheer and Valdo Prosecco! 1. Valdo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Oro Puro Color : Pretty...

A tribute to Arvid Monson, founder of Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards. “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. Quite happy to see this new label. Both of these Washington wines are true values with great QPR. Recommended . Tasting Notes  1. Tall Sage 2014 Chardonnay Columbia Valley Color : Straw. Nose : Tropical, mineral, inviting. Palate : Nutty, dry, light pear, banana in background, medium-light body, focus to middle, slight tingle, creamy, modest finish of pear, banana and hazelnut. Light in body and palate. Best for when you want a modest, light drinking wine. After 15 Minutes : More depth on nose, think fresh rain and wet rock, pear/banana, hazelnut shel...

An enticing wine made from a windswept estate vineyard. I'm often asked by visitors to Washington wine country about the quality of our wines. "Why are these wines so good?" As most of you know, you cannot make good wine without good grapes. And Washington wine grapes can be very good. Case in point. The Horse Heaven Hills AVA is home to 25% of the state's vineyard acreage.   Eastern Washington lies in a sweet spot in the Pacific Northwest. The Cascade mountain range captures most of the precipitation from the Pacific coast, leaving much of Eastern Washington semi-arid desert steppe. To grow grapes here, you must irrigate. The Northwest location also provides additional daylight in the summer, plus additional heat units and typically cool desert evenings. The best vineyards are located on poor soils, which are  relatively pest free, so no vine grafting required. Frequent winds also contribute to a nearly perfect growing region. View of a portion of the ...