I have such fond memories of visiting Dunham Cellars in the early 2000s. This location was a seminal wine memory I have tasting with my father and trying the consistently great lineup. Founded by the Dunham family in 1995 these are wines that tend to completely over-deliver for the price. They have a range of wines starting with their entry level ‘Three Legged Red’ up to their top Artist Series wines that are truly beautiful.
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 who is now at Abeja. 2020 was tough sledding for most Washington wineries but he has crafted and incredible 2020 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which comes off very clean and soft. This is a stunning wine made in a tough vintage. I also adored the fresh new 2023 Dunham Cellar Rose (OB, 92) which is very vibrant and nuanced. Learn more about these beautiful wines at dunhamcellars.com Here are the great new wines by Dunham Cellars.
2023 Dunham Cellars Rose- The 2023 Dunham Cellars Rose is a blend of 80% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Syrah coming from the Lewis Vineyard. The Cabernet Franc was entirely aged in stainless steel, as this offers juicy peach and starfruit notes on the nose alongside pretty guava and red cherry fruits. The palate is very fresh and mineral-driven with a juicy core of red fruit flavors, alongside kiwi and stony minerals. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2022 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 Dunham Cellars ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay was stored in roughly a third new French oak before bottling. Coming from the Kenny Hill and Lewis Vineyard, this offers brioche and creme brûlée notes on the nose alongside baking spices and ripe pear. The palate is soft and inviting with good richness, depth and concentration. Beautifully balanced, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2031- 93
2022 Dunham Cellars ‘Three Legged Red’ Red Wine- Made from equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, this was stored in almost all neural oak before bottling. Tar and anise combine with rich dark fruits and chocolate on the nose. The palate is fresh and shows good viscosity on the palate. Polished and showing good balance, this medium bodied effort is already showing beautifully right now. A steal at only twenty dollars. Drink 2024-2029- 91
2021 Dunham Cellars ‘Trutina’ Red Wine- This brilliant 2022 edition of Dunham Cellars Trutina has a higher percentage of Merlot (64%) than most vintages. Stored in roughly 30% new French oak, this offers rich toasty oak with chocolate, black currants, mocha and coffee ground notes. The palate is rich and velvety with great balance and poise. Rich and viscous, with a silky texture, this is drinking beautifully right now. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2020 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 40% new French oak before bottling. Sagebrush and fresh thyme mark the nose alongside anise, creme de cassis and suggestions of cocoa powder. The palate is fresh and lithe with a soft texture. Medium to full-bodied, this is a total home-run considering the challenges of the vintage. No reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2021 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- The outstanding 2021 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah was sourced from the Lewis and Kenny Hill Vineyards. Stored in mostly neutral oak barrels, this delivers mocha, tar and dried herbal tones on the nose alongside iodine tones. The palate is soft and refined with a gorgeous texture. Black florals mingle well with loganberry preserves, asphalt and suggestions of garrigue on the palate. A beautiful wine made from this great vintage, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2021 Dunham Cellars ‘Artist Series’ Syrah- The beautiful 2020 Dunham Cellars ‘Artist Series’ Syrah has original artwork that was given by Dunham founder Eric Dunham to Dunham GM John Blair. This limited production bottling comes entirely from the Lewis Vineyard as this displays beautiful purple rose petals alongside creosote, creme de violette and shades of cassis. The palate is plush and soft with a refined texture. Loaded with rich dark fruits, this beauty is already drinking marvelously at the four year mark. Drink now. Drink 2024-2028- 95