This week we welcome KESTREL VINTNERS from Prosser Washington. Their Director of Sales, JJ Compeau, will be joining us from 1 - 5. We will also be introducing a new book from the Merlot Murder Mysteries series "For the Sake of the Vine". Here is an excerpt from the book +Flint started taking bottles out from under the tasting bar two at a time like a man on a mission. Half of the bottles were from Kestrel, the other half from Lapis, sixteen in all. “We’re gonna taste all those?” “Yes, um, you may want to spit. Grape juice can catch up with a man.” Flint went into the kitchen and brought out a rack of wine glasses and started pouring. “There is a point to this, right?” “Indeed. A mystery if you will. One I’ve been trying to solve for the past four years. Now, look at this, eight of my wines, eight of your father’s. His Chardonnay, my Chardonnay. Same year,’05. Try them. Tell me what you get.” Zach tasted them both. “Yours is better.” “Without a doubt. I encouraged malolactic fermentation. Horst left it out. An odd choice, and inferior grapes. He doesn’t hand sift. So….” “So what’s your point?” “Next one. Cabernet.” Zach tasted. “Kestrel wins again.” “Why?” “I don’t…?” + The Flint being mentioned is the actual first name of the Kestrel winemaker and there are references to streets in Prosser also. JJ helped with some of the technical aspects so it will be fun to talk to him about the book. The publisher has also been invited. Should be a fun day!!!

OK. Back to the wines. ESTATE VIOGNIER - $20.99 - CorkyClub Members $17.84 - (reg 22.99) -Winemaker's Notes: The color is almost clear; there is just a hint of yellow to it. The aromas are clean and fresh with overtones of citrus, honeysuckle, lemon grass, mandarin, gooseberry, star fruit, guava, jasmine, and caramelized sugar. 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 as sauteed seafood or chicken, seasoned with fresh fragrant herbs, like tarragon or basil. It is also the perfect sipping wine for a warm lazy afternoon.

PURE PLATINUM - $12.99 - CorkyClub Members $11.04 - (reg. $16.99) - Winemaker's Notes: This wine possesses the brilliant spice of the Gewurztraminer grape and the floral perfume of the Viognier. In the nose you will find hints of honeysuckle, passion flower and orange blossoms. The mouth explodes with sweet citrus and stone fruits such as tangerines, apricots and peaches. The long lingering finish is sweet clover honey.

LADY IN RED - $12.99 - CorkyClub Members $11.04 - (reg. $16.99) - Winemaker's Notes: This wine possesses a deep ruby-red color, centering to near black. In the aroma you will find blueberry, cherry, red currant, and elderberry fruit flavors. These are balanced by tea, tobacco, cedar, earth, sweet red pepper, black pepper, and vanilla which expose themselves in the glass. The wine ripples with bright intense red fruit flavors, and finishes with lingering cherry, dried herbs, and tobacco notes.

2005 MERLOT - $22.99 -CorkyClub Members $19.54 - (reg $30.99) - Winemaker's Notes: Our 2005 selection of Merlot is an exceptionally beautiful wine. The color is inky crimson-purple centering to black. In the aroma and on the palate there are multiple layers of ripe red fruits such as black cherry, blackberry, black raspberry, dried cranberry, black currant, elderberry, dried blueberry, and dried plum. There are also hints of dried herbs, rose petals, violets, sage, vanilla, clove cardamom, white pepper, nutmeg and tobacco. The wine is luscious, full bodied, complex, with a lingering finish.

2005 WINEMAKER SELECT MALBEC - $40.99 - CorkyClub Members $34.84 - Winemaker's Notes: This is our third release of Malbec. I love working with this varietal despite its challenges. It tends to be very vigorous and produces large and small berries that don't all ripen at the same time. It surprises me every year, the color is always inky purple and the aroma is always brimming with dark ripe fruits. You will find elements of violet, clove and cardamom. Under the floral perfume, dark ripe fruits such as blackberry, huckleberry, currant, plum and persimmon are perfectly balanced by toasted oak vanilla and mocha. This is a deep full bodied, multi-faceted wine with a lingering finish. As all wines from the Kestrel View Estate Vineyards you can taste a mineral element which seems to be our unique terroir. I like to think of it as being able to taste the earth that the roots of our vines lovingly embrace.

We hope that you will be able to drop by anytime on Saturday and taste these wines and check out "For the Sake of the Vine", the first in the Merlot Murder Mysteries.

We have tried the Austrian Gruner Veltliners but a Washington winery has released one so we have to compare it. SYNCLINE WINE CELLARS from Lyle produced 128 cases of their 2008 Gruner. Dry, and backed by brillant acidity, this wine shows flavors and aromas of lemon, pineapple and honeydew melon. Enjoy with fresh, chilled shellfish. (from the back label of the bottle)

And since we are enjoying a native Austrian grape we thought having a ZWEIGELT would only be right. ZW Zweigelt is a great new wine from Austria. Pleasant, mild wine. Black currant on the nose. Great with beef, poultry, pasta and pizza. As with most of the wine we have found from this area (Weinland Osterreich) it is a one liter bottle.

We were lucky enough to meet Scott Palazzo owner/winemaker of Palazzo Wine this week. The winery is in the Napa Valley and Scott has a love affair with the wines produced from the Bordeaux region of France. His goal is to produce beautiful wnes of outstanding quality....with distinction and class! Wines that are both 'powerful and elegant'... and pair well with a broad range of foods.

He is slowly growing into different markets around the country and Seattle is his newest one.

We tasted and were able to get a few bottles of his 2005 NAPA VALLEY RED WINE a blend of 70% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 1,100 cases of this unfined/unfiltered wine were made, French-styled red. The sexy, Pomerol-styled 2005 exhibits aromas of chocolate, espresso roast, sweet cherries, and black currants. The fragrant bouquet is followed by a silky-textured, medium to full-bodied wine with lush, mocha-infused flavors that cascade over the palate. Drink this beauty now and over the next 10-12 years. ” It is sold out at the winery and our distributor will soon be moving into the 2006 vintage.

The other wine we shared with Scott was his 2006 CABERNET FRANC. "I was hugely honored when chef / owner, Thomas Keller, asked if I would produce an ‘exclusive bottling’ of Palazzo 2005 Cabernet Franc for his famous restaurants… The French Laundry in Napa Valley… Per Se in New York City…and Bouchon in Las Vegas. Of course I said ‘YES!’ I am very excited to be announcing the release of my ‘first bottling’ available to the marketplace, of my new PALAZZO 2006 Cabernet Franc!" The 750 ml of this wine are sold out so we nabbed some of the 375 ml. If you want to try a GREAT Cabernet Franc pick one up before they are gone!

Check Out Palazzo's web site.

A new shop is having its soft opening now with a grand opening June 1st. BUDGET BOUTIQUE located at 22306 Marine View Drive (by New You Alterations) will offer beautiful affordable items to customers who love quality on a budget. Teri, owner/manager, has 30 years experience in consignment sales and is now accepting clothing, jewelry, shoes & handbags. If you would like more information give her a call at 206-941-2626 or e-mail at mybudgetboutique@aol.com

COPPER RIVER SALMON will be arriving at B & E this weekend. Now is the time to check out Pinot Noirs to compliment that piece of salmon you pick up for the grill.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for these upcoming events also: CORKYCRUSH IX - July 18 - proceeds to benefit the Des Moines Food Bank. Ask for details on how you can be involved. ********** Breeders Theater production of "The Last Magician", held at E. B. Foote Winery, opens July 10th, tickets available now.

Next weeks tasting: Vito Montanarelli will be joining us from Gioia Wines / Imports. We will be featuring - Fattoria Laila Verdicchio, Fattoria Anselmi Pinot Grigio Latisana, Azienda Agricola Michele Reverdito Barbera d'Alba, Rosso Piceno Vign Piediprato and Montaribaldi Moscato d' Asti.

SEE YOU SOON!