The holidays In Seattle/The Inn At The Market/Cafe Campagne/ Kestrel Vintners

We have traveled into the beautiful city of Seattle.We touched down and the rain never stopped.This is Seattle this time of year,but have no fear...we will find great food and wines .Today we are featuring the Inn At The Market,Cafe Campagne,and the wines of Kestrel vintners.let's check out the tasting notes of our 2 feature wines. The 2014 Kestrel Chardonnay is powerful and particularly well balanced. It boasts a rich mineral element, is full bodied, and bursting with ripe pears, lemon and honeysuckle. The characteristic minerality reminds me of warm rain on cement, a signature of Kestrel View Estate Vineyard. It is an exceptional Chardonnay, made in old world tradition. The combination of obscure yeast strains, the Wente Clone, and the manner in which it was fermented and cared for create a complex wine with many layers. As beautiful bright layers unfold I hope you find a whole new appreciation for Chardonnay. One hundred percent of our Chardonnay comes from Kestrel View Estate Vineyard. It was planted in 1972 and is the oldest producing Chardonnay in the state of Washington. Our vineyard is also unique in that the Chardonnay is the “Wente” clone and represents one of only a few Wente clone Chardonnay vineyards in the state. The Wente clone is known for being “shy bearing”. This means it produces modest quantities of high quality fruit. It also produces a different flavor and aroma profile. While still showing pear, honeysuckle, citrus and floral notes like the “other” Chardonnay clone, the Wente clone offers hints of mineral, nutmeg, clove, pineapple, mandarin orange and a slight Muscat note. Our second wine is the Kestrel Vintners Voignier 2014.The color is almost clear. The aromas are clean and fresh with overtones of leachy, apple, pear, citrus, and golden marshmallow. The flavors echo the aromas. The body is light and elegant, with flavors that dance across your tongue. The Viognier was hand-picked and whole cluster pressed, from our own Kestrel View Estate Vineyards. The juice was chilled for several days before being racked off its lees. Next it was fermented at 54 degrees until nearly dry. By fermenting in stainless steel at very cool temperatures we were able to preserve the natural fruit characteristics of the Viognier grape. We also went to great pains in the vineyard to grow the grapes with only dappled light. Too much sun on Viognier’s delicate skin can cause bitterness. This is a grape that does very well in Washington state,and pairs well with richer dishes.Now we will check into the Inn at The Market,and get ready for a great dinner at Cafe Campagne .Please join us,as we enjoy beautiful Seattle and the Christmas holidays.Cheers! Click here and join us as we celebrate the holidays in Seattle.