2007 Kestrel Signature Edition Estate Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon

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.

Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA created in Washington State. The valley, a 600,000-acre area in south central Washington, was granted AVA status in 1983. In 1984 Columbia Valley was given AVA status, and Yakima Valley was enclosed within the Columbia Valley AVA. Nevertheless, Yakima Valley remains home to the largest concentration of vineyards and wineries in the state. There are more than 60 wineries and some 16,000 vineyard acres, and nearly 40% of Washington wines are made with Yakima Valley grapes. The most frequently planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking here dates to 1869, when a winemaker from Alsace planted grape vines. Vineyard planting and wine production plodded along slowly until the early 1980s when numerous modern pioneers started making well-reviewed Yakima Valley wines. Some of the state’s newest, most closely watched appellations, including Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA, are contained within Yakima Valley.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.