On rare occasion I taste wines and post on them immediately. My feeling is that when wines are seriously good, word needs to get out on them. Last night I had the opportunity to try all of the new release wines by Dunham Cellars. Tasting with their general manager, John Blair, I tasted the wines and then we talked about the price points on the wines. These wines offer insane value across the board. I was absolutely floored that their Cabernet has not changed its price ($45.00) in more than a decade. When you consider inflation, that is just a remarkable value for the consumer. Simply put, these wines overdeliver for the price.
Located in the airport district of Walla Walla and founded by the Dunham family in 1995, Dunham relies on the talented hands of winemaker Rob Campisi, who was formerly assistant winemaker at Dunham. Rob trained under eminent Washington winemaker, Dan Wampfler and he crafts quite a wide range of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trutina (Bordeaux style blend), Three Legged Red (red table wine) and the "Shirley Mays" Chardonnay, a dedication to Eric's grandmother.
Look to the 2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Riesling (WWB, 92) which is one of the great Rieslings in the state and evokes wonderful texture with seriously good range. The 2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) is a wine that overdelivers for the price. The near minute-long finish complete this seriously good bottling. Finally, Dunham has gained a sterling reputation for their Syrah wines and their 2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah (WWB, 93) is another insanely good value for the price. This wine offered wonderful smoky qualities with rich dark fruits and bright acidity. Learn more about these beautiful wines at dunhamcellars.com Here are the great new wines by Dunham Cellars.
2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis VIneyard’ Riesling- The 2017 ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Riesling is a gorgeous bottling by Dunham Cellars. The petrol notes are really enticing as the wine shows bright white flowers and kumquat zest that mingle with the earthy undertones. The palate shows good freshness and intensity, with racy acidity that cuts through the bright orchard fruits, lime zest, ginger and ripe pineapple. This shows excellent mid-palate range and a soft, inviting texture. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next seven years. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay was entirely sourced from the Lewis Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. The aromatics are really enticing with vanilla cream and shades of wild mushroom that mingle with shades of mango. The texture is soft and inviting, unveiling buttercream, ripe banana and suggestions of nutmeg that all shine together in the glass. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Drink 2019-2026- 93
2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Three Legged Red’ Red Wine- Named after their former winery dog, ‘Port,’ the 2017 ‘Three Legged Red’ begins with aromas of toasty oak that wraps around bright Bing cherry, cigar box and shades of cherry tomato that all come together in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, showing good freshness and delivering bright red and dark fruits with a touch of chocolate. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2023- 90
2015 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard Artist Series’ Merlot- The 2015 ‘Lewis Vineyard Artist Series’ Merlot (100%) was aged in 66% new French oak for 24 months prior to bottlng. Inky in the glass, the wine shows ripe black plum and suggestions of mocha and sagebrush that take their shape in the glass. The weight and balance in the wine is truly fantastic as rich black cherry compote, black raspberry cordial, and suggestions of coffee grounds all mingle brightly together. This finishes long with minerals and dark fruits. Fantastic to savor right now, this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new effort from this warm vintage in Washington. The nose shows off rich blackberry pie, Turkish coffee and sagebrush aromas that meld in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing ripe red cherry, blueberry compote, coffee grounds and suggestions of black tea and exotic spices. This just might be the first ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Dunham out of roughly fifteen where I have found blue fruits. Nonetheless, this is delicious wine that is drinking marvelously now and will cellar well for at least another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is a fantastic new wine that was sourced from the Kenny Hill, Lewis and Phinny the Hill Vineyards. Aged in 35% new French oak for eighteen months, this opens with a bouquet of smoked pork shoulder that mingles with thyme and lavender as well as wild blackberry and suggestions of milk chocolate that all sing in harmony in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and elegance, showing a racy acidity and soft texture that really impresses. Long and generous, with layers of dark fruits that mingle with dark chocolate shavings, creosote and sagebrush flavors, with citrus rinds undertones, this expressive Syrah is drinking marvelously now and will provide drinking enjoyment for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93