TABLE WINES

Pure Platinum - Third Edition (non vintage)
60% Gewürztraminer & 40% Viognier
Released March 2007

Pure Platinum, Third Edition, is an elegant white table wine carefully created by blending Gewürztraminer and Viognier.  The wine emanates style and sophistication.  The Viognier hails from our own Kestrel View Estate Vineyard, located at 1,200 feet just below the Saddleback Ridge, north of Prosser.  Smasne Farms cultivated the Gewürztraminer.  Both grape varietals were harvested late in the season at full maturity with sugar content near 25 Brix.  Cool, slow fermentation was stopped at 1.5% residual sugar.  The resulting wine is a fine marriage of spice and floral elements.

The Wine:  This wine possesses the brilliant spice of the Gewürztraminer grape and the lingering perfume of the Viognier. In the nose you will find hints of honeysuckle, lilac, orange blossom, nutmeg and cinnamon. The mouth explodes with sweet citrus such as tangerines, mandarins, and tangelos, and stone fruits such as apricots and peaches. The lingering finish is reminiscent of sweet clover honey.

Lady In Red - Fifth Edition (non vintage)
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39.5 Merlot, 10% Syrah, 2.5% Sangiovese
Released August 2007

Our fifth release of Lady In Red is non-vintage, as were our first four releases. It is a blend of wines crafted predominately from the 2004 and 2005 vintages.  The fruit for Lady In Red Fifth Edition was grown at several outstanding locations around the Yakima Valley and Columbia Valley; our own Kestrel View Estate grapes comprise 51% of the blend. Grapes from this site produce wines brimming with fully ripened black and red fruit flavors and aromas coupled with generous amounts of fine velvety soft tannins. All fruit was carefully picked at its height of maturity, then de-stemmed and crushed, leaving 15% whole berries. It was fermented at 85°F, in small batches, for 7 to 10 days, then gently pressed so as not to extract any harsh tannins. Forty percent was then aged in small oak barrels until bottling.

The Wine:  This wine possesses a deep ruby-red color.  In the aroma, you will find ripe blackberry, cherry, currant, licorice, black pepper, vanilla and blueberry fruit flavors, which expose themselves in one’s glass.  The wine ripples with structure and finishes with lingering cherry, cedar, and tobacco notes.Alcohol 13.8%  Cases produced: 9,574

ULTRA PREMIUM WINES

2004 Estate Syrah
Blend: 85% Syrah & 15% Merlot
Released April 2007
Silver -New World International Wine Competition (5/07)
Silver - West Coast Wine Competition (2007)

Eighty-five percent of the Syrah came from our own Kestrel Vineyard, located north of Prosser, high on the Roza. Our vineyard is acclaimed as one of Washington State’s top Syrah vineyards. Washington State and especially the Yakima Valley, seem to be ideally suited for growing Syrah, due to the long summer days that boast in excess of 16 hours of sunshine per day. Follow this with our extended autumns, providing warm days and cool nights, factors perfect for producing grapes with ripe fruit flavors and good acidities. Fifteen percent of the fruit came from another Yakima Valley Vineyard known as Elephant Mountain.

The Wine: The color has a deep purple crimson hue. In the aroma and on the palate you will find jammy black and red currant, dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon black olive, and white pepper. This is a full-bodied wine with a lingering finish. It is well balanced and complex. Hopefully it will leave you wanting more.  Alcohol: 13.8% Vineyard Source: 85% Kestrel View Estate Vineyard & 15% Elephant Mountain Vineyards.  Cases Produced: 992

2006 Estate Viognier
100% Kestrel View Estate Vineyard Viognier
Released Spring 2007
Silver - SF Wine Competition 

During the 2004 growing season, we experienced a long, warm summer; the cooler October temperatures helped maintain acidity and created wine with outstanding structure and balance. Planted in 1972, Kestrel View Vineyard produces some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the state of Washington, and is the only vineyard in the state planted to the "shy-bearing" Wente clone of Chardonnay. It naturally yields only 2.25 to 2.75 tons per acre and produces a distinct flavor and aroma profile. While still showing pear, honeysuckle, citrus and floral notes like the other Chardonnay clone, the Wente clone offers mineral, hints of nutmeg, clove and a slight Muscat note.

The Wine:  The color is almost clear; there is just a hint of yellow to it. The aromas are clean and fresh with overtones of peach, honeysuckle, lemon, mandarin, and jasmine. The flavors echo the aromas. The body is rich and perfectly balanced, with the combination of bright fruit and crisp acidity. I would recommend serving this wine with simply prepared foods such sautéed seafood or chicken, seasoned with fresh fragrant herbs, like tarragon or basil. It is also the perfect sipping wine for a warm lazy afternoon.  Cases produced: 495 cases. Alcohol: 13.4%

SIGNATURE EDITION WINES

2003 Signature Edition Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Kestrel View Vineyard fruit
Released December 2006

The 2003 growing season was outstanding!  One hundred percent of the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon came from our own Kestrel View Estate Vineyard.  The Old Vine Cab from our Estate Vineyard was planted in 1972, making the vines some of the oldest in Washington State.  The extended warm autumn produced Cab with ripe flavors and nice acidity.  After the initial fermentation it was pressed to small French Oak barrels where it matured for 22 months.  Prior to bottling the finest barrel were selected from the lot and only this portion was bottled as our Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon.   

The Wine:  Aromas and flavors of cherry, vanilla, blackberry, and black currant mix with cedar and black pepper.  This is a beautiful wine, one you can drink now or cellar for 5-8 years.  94% Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Old Vine Malbec. Alc.: 13.8%   Cases Produced:  209 cases

2003 Signature Edition Old Vine Merlot
100% Kestrel View Vineyard fruit
Released October 2006

The 2003 growing season was outstanding!  Great fruit was harvested from most of Washington’s vineyards.  The better estates were rewarded with superb fruit.  One hundred percent of this 2003 Merlot came from our own Kestrel View Estate Vineyard.  The Old Vine Merlot from our Estate Vineyard was planted in 1972, making the vines some of the oldest in Washington State.  The Yakima Valley seems to be ideally suited for growing of many varieties, especially Merlot.  This is due to long summer days that boast in excess of 16 hours of sunshine per day.  Follow this with our extended autumns, warm days, and cool nights and you have perfect conditions for producing the highest quality Merlot with ripe fruit flavors and good acidities.

The Wine:  The color is a rich ruby red.  In the aroma you will be greeted by waves of ripe red and black fruits.  Your palate will be lead through flavors of ripe cherries, blackberry, raspberry, currants, licorice, leather and spice.  As you explore the velvety texture of this wine, from explosive first sip to deliberately lingering finish, you will realize that this is truly something special.  Alc.:  14.5% 100% Old Vine Merlot from Kestrel View Estate Vineyard. Cases Produced: 238 cases.

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