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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.7 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 54 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by noni15 on 7/25/2023 & rated 92 points: OK Merlot from 2008 if you know what I mean.....nothing to be really excited about but still holding pretty good, in order for merlots to age that much I think they need more cab to give them more fruit and backbone on the palate. (492 views) | | | Tasted by TallMikeWine on 11/22/2021 & rated 92 points: May be pushing the aging envelope a bit here...a bit disjointed, out of balance with the acid doing funny things. However still a lovely wine to sip on a cold night with good friends and food. But do it now! (1429 views) | | | Tasted by sanjuanlewis on 3/6/2021 & rated 92 points: Beautiful Washington merlot. In a wonderful place right now. (1789 views) | | | Tasted by 1961Vintage on 6/28/2020 & rated 95 points: Notes remain consistent. WOW wine! (1905 views) | | | Tasted by 1961Vintage on 4/11/2020 & rated 95 points: Superb wine. Drinking extremely well right now with more life ahead though don't think it can get much better. Already exceptional. (1860 views) | | | Tasted by oldcabman on 2/2/2020 & rated 92 points: Lithe and supple, black cherry, mild and sweet oak, fully integrated tannins, soft without being overridden by food. At peak I believe. (1735 views) | | | Tasted by TallMikeWine on 1/13/2020 & rated 96 points: As always, these Lewis Vineyard wines from Dunham are amazing. What can I say, besides 'on point' all of it. Fruit (plum, cherry, blueberry) earth, and spicy wood notes (tree bark, with pepper). Integrated, followed up with a sweet yet tannic (silky tannins, not harsh) finish. A treat, truly. (1202 views) | | | Tasted by zoeldar on 9/23/2019 & rated 94 points: Notes from CO_Roots13 are spot-on (nicely done, btw). Beauty right now, but not sure of how much more developed this will go. Had most of the bottle last night, it was fantastic. Remainder tonight was solid, but not as exciting/spicy/dense, which tells me we're in prime time right now. (1238 views) | | | Tasted by CO_Roots13 on 8/25/2019 & rated 94 points: Several more years have done this wine some good, taking the wine from something with potential to something special. Having said that, the best is still ahead for this wine. Also I will say that, if you are looking for old world purity and neutral treatments, you will be a little shocked. If, instead, you are open to an American style of winemaking then this is a treat.
Rather expressive nose showing blueberry, vanilla, nutmeg, graphite and some salinity to round it all out. Inky dense with an opulent feel on the pallet with a touch of heat, but with plenty of grip and everpresent tannins. Dense and concentrated with more of the spices evolving and playing with vanilla and a punch of smoked dark red fruit. The finish is powerful and sustained with a sense of what I can only truly describe by referencing a mix between cigar smoke and those chocolate covered açaí candies (intended to be taken in a 100% positive light). I have one more that I will try to keep for at least another 5 years.
8-18-9-9 (I have become a little more strict since I last drank this) (1081 views) | | | Tasted by garambler on 5/14/2019 & rated 91 points: I had this after dinner on 5/14/19. It had an elegant, expressive nose of plum, black cherry, mocha, cocoa, burnt toast, clove and spice aromas. The palate was rich, elegant and dry with flavors that followed the nose. (742 views) | | | Tasted by PT insurgent on 8/29/2018: Tastes like a piece of wood. Tastes like a 12mo old barrel sample from a new barrel but without the harsh tannins. Ripe plum, prune, fig, lactic wood vanilla toast butter, etc etc.
10 years old and wood/oak is still the main driving factor of this wine. What is the fucking point? (1335 views) | | | Tasted by PT insurgent on 9/14/2017: Ripe, oaked but still delicious. Not really my style but the structure is superb. Lots of ripe fruits. Great tannin, great acid. The wine still has a number of years ahead of it. (1787 views) | | | Tasted by GA_Seattle on 7/23/2017 & rated 91 points: Garnet color. Rich, ripe red fruit aromas. Lush red berry compote, with baking spices - nutmeg, clove, traces of fennel. Lucious savory mouthfeel, but only drawback was the short finish, 10-15 seconds. Nonetheless still very enjoyable, and perfect to drink now. (1882 views) | | | Tasted by TD2Irish on 2/26/2017 & rated 92 points: Wonderful drink, maybe at it's peak. If you like domestic Merlot you would like this. To bad this was my last bottle. (2003 views) | | | Tasted by kchwd on 10/19/2016 & rated 94 points: I'd say CR_ROOTS13 nailed it. Wonderful stuff. (2239 views) | | | Tasted by rjm_va on 8/7/2016 & rated 90 points: Very nice (2124 views) | | | Tasted by redz on 2/23/2016 & rated 92 points: not sure what other recent comments were disappionted with, I loved it. Big, decant (2099 views) | | | Tasted by Mithras on 2/20/2016 & rated 86 points: Red fruit, grape sap and raisin. Nose is strawberry. Ripe with dominant jammy fruit. Heavy wine though. Non-fruit qualities include blood, rust, iodine, and saline. It is sweet, with high acid, high stemmy tannins and high alcohol. Oak and vanilla are also quite present. Tastes like merlot that has been blended with a tannic Cabernet. Not elegant. Drinking this wine was somewhat exhausting. Flavors at present not integrated but may improve. This bruiser of a wine settled down and integrated better after letting the remainder of the bottle sit for 4-5 hours - so suggest lots of aeration if you drink it this year. (1939 views) | | | Tasted by tourproto on 12/28/2015 & rated 84 points: Was very disappointed in this wine. It was almost as if the wine was corked, but the cork looked perfect. Very flat with little to no mouthfeel. (1935 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 8/23/2015 & rated 87 points: Decanted for an hour. Huge amount of oak on the nose...very apparent on the palate as well. Solid red fruit, raspberry, red currant, with a vanilla and espresso finish. Funneled into a 375 and stashed in the wine fridge for a couple nights. Day 3 finished it up, and still a LOT of oak showing. Still, it drinks quite well for being open 3 days, particularly nice match with a grass-fed strip steak and broccoli. I'd give this one more time for the oak to integrate. Drink 2017 - 2023. (2057 views) | | | Tasted by CO_Roots13 on 4/19/2015 & rated 95 points: Upon opening - clearly a special New World Red. Its slightly overwrought and unruly, but everything is in place to take this to the next level with age (or air). Very expressive nose of smokey dark fruit and a little oak and graphite. The palatte is inky and deeply concentrated showcasing black and blue fruit with bramly and slmokey character. The opulent texture excorts a very powerfull, tanic, vanilla laden lengthy finish. Currently a 94 (9-18-9-8). Lets see how evolves with couple hours of air...
Well, it did not dissapoint! The nose softened a bit with a light addition of earthiness and red fruit to support the smokey dark fruit. The palette has settled down immensely and added compexity to the concentration. While three hours in a decanter brought it into a higher level of focus, some bottle rest will do this wonders.
9-19-9-8 (2163 views) | | | Tasted by garambler on 2/19/2015 & rated 92 points: I had this with grilled chuck steak on 2/19/15. It had a fragrant, expressive and thoroughly inviting bouquet of plum, black cherry, black currant, cocoa, mocha, smoke, toast, clove and spice aromas. The palate was nicely structured and a touch dry with flavors of plum, black cherry, cocoa, mocha, toast and spice. (1617 views) | | | Tasted by RyanJames on 12/18/2014 & rated 90 points: Really oaky, vanila-y on the pop. This blew off and this settled down into a really tasty, quality merlot. Chocolate, red fruit, oak spices, tobacco were all there. Day 2: oak + alcohol popped out a bit more than I would have liked. (2311 views) | | | Tasted by wine247365 on 12/13/2014 & rated 92 points: I'm new to WA Merlots, but this is very tasty stuff. will buy more. (1994 views) | | | Tasted by zoeldar on 11/24/2014 & rated 92 points: Wowser....wish I had read previous notes - yes, this one is an infant and needs time (3-6 yrs min). Double-decanted 1 hr prior to dinner...lovely initial but muted nose, some roses, some cassis...early stage is somewhat muted, but after 2 hrs, the richness begins to shine through, along with a core of solid fruit. Reminded me of Pedestal in terms of depth of Merlot fruit..rich, spicy back-end, full of vitality and complexity. Last glass has 45-sec finish...ah, the beauties of WA merlot in the right hands... (1974 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2012, IWC Issue #165
(Dunham Cellars Merlot Lewis Vineyard Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Dunham Cellars Producer websiteMerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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