2004 Kestrel Merlot

Kestrel Vintners was founded in 1995 by the late John J. Walker when he bought 160 acres on Rattlesnake Slope, overlooking Yakima Valley. Parts of the vineyards had been planted in 1972 with Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and Kestrel’s debut release was a 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon. Walker and his wife Helen named their new winemaking venture for the Kestrel sparrow hawk native to the region. Many of their labels include an illustration of the bird, which is the smallest member of the falcon family and a hunter of small rodents and other animals that sometimes eat grapes in vineyards. The Walkers have encouraged Kestrels to nest on the estate. The estate continues to be owned by Helen Walker and run by the couple’s daughter, Cynthia Walker Crowley. Flint Nelson is winemaker. The estate makes a large number of wines including Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Mourvedre and blends. The blend called Raptor Red is Kestrel’s signature wine. It is a blend of Bordeaux grapes that varies from vintage to vintage.

Columbia Valley AVA is larger than some states. At 18,000 square miles, or 11 million acres, the appellation covers almost half of Washington State and a small part of Oregon on the south side of the Columbia River. Established in 1984, Columbia Valley contains numerous sub appellations within its boundaries, including Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA, both large and important wine districts. Columbia Valley AVA, generally called the Columbia Basin by Pacific Northwesterners, is in the Columbia River Plateau, and the AVA also includes a section of northeastern Oregon. There are dozens of microclimates within this appellation of about 7,000 vineyard acres. Many kinds of grapes are grown in the Columbia Valley, though the principal grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Eastern Washington experiences very hot summers and cold winters, and the northern latitude means that Washington vineyards receive several more hours of sun in the summer than California vineyards. Grapes in Washington therefore have time to develop significant tannins and overall ripeness.

The Merlot grape is such a deep blue that it is named for the blackbird. It’s an early ripening grape and one of the primary varietals used In Bordeaux. Merlot is also grown in the "International style," which is harvested later to bring out more tannins and body.