Washington Wine Report - An Impressive Blog

 

A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing through Sean Sullivan's blog, "Washington Wine Report" and happened to run across a review of my "Review of Washington Wines." Sullivan wrote, "Review of Washington Wines' newsletters are easy to read....Long-time recipients of Esquin's monthly flyer will recognize Sealey's engaging writing style." (To read the full review, dated May 21, 2009, go to www.wawinereport.com, and scroll down the list of "LABELS" on the left to "Rand Sealey's Review of Washington Wines" and click.). Thanks, Sean.

 

Now, I'm reviewing Sean Sullivan's own blog, "Washington Wine Report."

 

The blog Overview states, "Washington Wine Report is an independent blog focused on bringing Washington wine to you and bringing you to Washington wine." Sullivan's rating system is rather idiosyncratic, using stars and a plus as follows: ** - "An exceptional wine." * - "An excellent wine." + - "A good wine."

 

Recent postings include the following reviews. The December 15 posting gives the 2008 Domaine Pouillon Gewurztraminer one star. The December 10 posting profiles James and Poppie Mantone's Syncline Cellars in the Columbia Gorge and rates that winery's 2008 Roussanne one star. The December 18 posting announces the results of the Reader Survey which picks the 2008 William Church Malbec as the 2010 Washington Wine Report Reader Wine to Watch. The 2007 Alexandria Nicole "Mr. Big" Petite Sirah is the Reader Survey Wine of the Year.

 

There is a lot going on in Sullivan's blog. In the current posting there is a notification of a Virtual on-line tasting of Brian Carter's Abacadabra on December 21. The results of the Reader Survey are announced (see above). Numerous links to other blogs and websites are provided. The Friday, December 4 post gives an extensive report on the 2009 Vintage with pictures of vineyards including ones showing the frost lines following the cold snap of October 11. There is much more as well.

 

Sullivan's writing style is quite engaging. His posts show a through knowledge of wine and the wine industry (I crossed paths with him a couple of times during Fall Release Weekend in Walla Walla). For instance, Ryan Crane's Kerloo Cellars and Sean Boyd's Rotie Cellars are the subject of a Focus profile in the September 11 posting, recounting how each came to Walla Walla to work in winemaking, Crane at Va Piano and Boyd at Waters. In the article, Sullivan comments, "One of Walla Walla's strengths as an emerging wine region is that it remains a small town. Everybody knows everybody." In reading Sullivan's articles, you feel you are getting to know the winemakers being profiled.

 

All in all, Sean Sullivan's blog is very impressive. It is a must-read for anyone serious about Washington wine. Go to www.wawinereport.com.