Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1399
B / the tasting panel / july 2009 P l a c e P i g a l l e R E S T A U R A N T Walk through the historic Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle—often called the "soul of the city," with vendors pitching seafood through the air, aromas of shellfi sh and visually stunning ripe produce—and you'll end up at Place Pigalle. With a more specifi cally Parisian than general "French" fl air, this historic location overlooks Puget Sound. Named after the infamous red light district in Paris, it lived up to its namesake when, in a former lifetime, it played host to girls from a neighboring bordello, Naughty Nellie's, who would venture over to meet prospective clients. Today, owners Seth and Lluvia Walker keep the sensual- ity intact with some of the most charismatic and tasteful cuisine on the Sound. D Duck confi t atop red cabbage, roasted new potatoes in a jus de canard. Place Pigalle is famous for its delectable mussels, steamed and served with bacon, celery and shallots in a balsamic cream sauce. W I N E R Y Kestrel View Estates is a story of elevation. At an altitude of 1,200 feet, this premier Washington State site delivers natural acidity and structured tannins, with "beauty" at the core. The standouts include Kestrel's 2007 Estate Old Vine Chardonnay—the oldest Chardonnay vines in the state of Washington, planted in 1972 off the Wente clone. Pure Platinum is a white blend in a distinctive blue bottle that sports an inviting Marilyn Monroe lookalike. Now in its fourth edition, this is a Kestrel collectible (there's also a Lady in Red version with a Jane Russell-like stunner gracing the bottle) that blends 60% Gewürztraminer and 40% Viog- nier for a summer sipper of peaches, lychee and apricot: bright, crisp and fruity. It over-delivers at $12 SRP. D The kestrel falcon adorns the 2005 Kestrel Cabernet Sauvignon, estate fruit from the Yakima Valley. Slightly spiced with a cinnamon splash, this inky-dark red has range, from bright rhubarb to densely meaty coffee and blueberry jam. SRP $22. Kestrel's Pure Platinum is good, clean (fruity) fun. K e s t r e l W i n e r y