The initial impression on the nose right out of the bottle is earthy, slightly smoky and meaty, with a little bit of red fruit character that emerged more with air. The palate is medium bodied with flavors of red fruits, strawberry, sour cherry and pomegranates. On the finish the acidity firms up, with integrated but slightly gritty tannins and moderate length. It softened a bit after an hour or two in the decanter, but at this stage the wine comes across as a little bit lean, and I think it needs food and/or some more time in the bottle. If you open it expecting a rich Napa Cab you'll be disappointed - but considering how different the WA state climate is from Napa, I think it's a good example of the region's Cabernet. I wish it had a bit more depth but I think in 3-5 years + it might develop into an elegant and seamless Cab. I think I'll wait another couple years to open my last two bottles....
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Very disappointing. We had tasted another vintage of a Dunham cab and it was complex, nice tannins and excellent. This bottle has none of those things going for it. The nose is nice, but flavors acidic with no depth or apparent fruit. We decanted for an hour and it tasted better with our first glass. The second glass with dinner really went downhill.
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Whelmed, at best. Nose is closed, showing a little leather (much more oak). Unusual flavors carried across for a WW cab - sour pie cherries, non existent tannins... I think I spent too much on this one.
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Dark red/black color. Big, bold fruit with ripe tannins, vanilla and cocoa notes on the mid-palate. Very good New World red, plenty of oak but not overpowering. Will last another 6-8 years at least.
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Another a-typical cabernet, the fruit is on the brighter side, odd structure, felt young. That said, it is a tasty wine, I shouldn't knock it to hard. Like someone else wrote, good but nothing to write home about. Enjoyed in a line-up with other Walla cabs and this didn't stand out from the group in either direction.
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6/2/2017 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
So so the first night. A little better the second night. I didn't decant before drinking the first night. Would benefit from decanting.
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9/8/2014 - jkwoodward Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Past peak, bland on the palate.
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5/20/2013 - hiker_guy wrote:
Nose has more red than black fruit.
Palate was lean and a touch tart. Not bad with food. Probably could have gone longer in the cellar.
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7/8/2012 - davidga75 wrote:
The initial impression on the nose right out of the bottle is earthy, slightly smoky and meaty, with a little bit of red fruit character that emerged more with air. The palate is medium bodied with flavors of red fruits, strawberry, sour cherry and pomegranates. On the finish the acidity firms up, with integrated but slightly gritty tannins and moderate length. It softened a bit after an hour or two in the decanter, but at this stage the wine comes across as a little bit lean, and I think it needs food and/or some more time in the bottle. If you open it expecting a rich Napa Cab you'll be disappointed - but considering how different the WA state climate is from Napa, I think it's a good example of the region's Cabernet. I wish it had a bit more depth but I think in 3-5 years + it might develop into an elegant and seamless Cab. I think I'll wait another couple years to open my last two bottles....
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6/12/2012 - blabbott wrote: 85 Points
Very disappointing. We had tasted another vintage of a Dunham cab and it was complex, nice tannins and excellent. This bottle has none of those things going for it. The nose is nice, but flavors acidic with no depth or apparent fruit. We decanted for an hour and it tasted better with our first glass. The second glass with dinner really went downhill.
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5/19/2011 - futurist wrote: 80 Points
Whelmed, at best. Nose is closed, showing a little leather (much more oak). Unusual flavors carried across for a WW cab - sour pie cherries, non existent tannins... I think I spent too much on this one.
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8/28/2010 - masonjp wrote: 84 Points
Not a very impressive cab. Way over priced.
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3/4/2010 - tobinw wrote: 91 Points
Had for a birthday dinner with a variety of dishes. Held up well. Big cherry, mellowed over time.
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1/9/2010 - GA_Seattle wrote: 91 Points
Dark red/black color. Big, bold fruit with ripe tannins, vanilla and cocoa notes on the mid-palate. Very good New World red, plenty of oak but not overpowering. Will last another 6-8 years at least.
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11/15/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 85 Points
Another a-typical cabernet, the fruit is on the brighter side, odd structure, felt young. That said, it is a tasty wine, I shouldn't knock it to hard. Like someone else wrote, good but nothing to write home about. Enjoyed in a line-up with other Walla cabs and this didn't stand out from the group in either direction.
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12/17/2008 - ink_junkie wrote: 84 Points
Okay but nothing to write home about for the price, even with Costco prices.
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8/27/2008 - garywa wrote: 85 Points
light, cherry pie filling, better balance, not worth the price
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