Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2009

Woehler on Wine: Kestrel Vintners

By Bob Woehler, Wine Press Northwest tasting editor

PROSSER — Who would have guessed that Kestrel Vintners in Prosser would gain a reputation for its $12 and under wines featuring dazzling Hollywood beauties on the labels?

That's what the winery has done with its Lady in Red and Pure Platinum white, which can be bought for as low as $9.99 at some grocery and liquor store outlets.

It's not just the fetching labels featuring Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe lookalikes that are a selling point to these wines, but rather that they are well made, well priced and have repeatedly gained "outstanding" ratings from Wine Press Northwest.

Lady in Red and Pure Platinum are now the flagship wines of Kestrel and have allowed the Prosser winery to gain that elusive notice ... a tough thing to do when there are 500 other Washington wine labels clamoring for our attention.

Four years ago, Richard Kinssies, Seattle Post-Intelligencer wine writer, described how Kestrel winemaker Flint Nelson wanted to market leftover blending wine and asked a Columbia Basin College business class for a marketing idea. The result was Pure Platinum and Lady in Red -- now Kestrel's top selling wines.

However, these two wines aren't the only bargains you can find at Kestrel.

Pure Platinum Edition Four, Washington state, $9.99-$12 -- An aromatic and tasty blend of Gewürztraminer and Viognier to complement a sharp cheese macaroni dish.

Lady In Red, Edition Six, Washington state, $9.99-$12 -- Flavorful berry based blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to match a wine marinated grilled tri-tip.

2007 Old Vine Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $20 -- Citrus, creamy and rich -- would be delightful with grilled mahi mahi and lemon butter sauce.

2007 Viognier, Yakima Valley, $20 -- Classic orange, jasmine and vanilla cream aromas and flavors. A stir fry with a bit of Asian spice will do.

2005 Merlot, Yakima Valley, $20 -- Layers of smooth ripe berries with hints of chocolate in time for a spring lamb dish.

2005 Syrah, Yakima Valley, $18 -- Great quality in the bottle showing blackberries and some black pepper. Beef kabobs with mushrooms, onions and bell peppers.

-- On the net: www.kestrelwines.com

* Bob Woehler has been writing about Pacific Northwest wines since 1978. E-mail him at bwoehler@charter.net or check out his past columns at www.winepressnw.com.