David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The Aluve 2014 Cabernet is a blend of 92% Cabernet, 6% Merlot & 2% Petit Verdot. On the nose, blackberries, milk chocolate, plum, black plum, blueberries, mocha powder, cinnamon, vanilla, loamy soils and violets dominate in a fresh floral bouquet. The mouthfeel is M+ body with M tannins that are nice and soft in a young Cabernet. There's lots of chocolate and mocha. Fruits are; blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries with strawberries coming on late. Leather, warm spices, underbrush, crushed dry rocks, Rutherford dust, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, dry, dark florals, lighter round acidity and a fresh, even finish of; fruit, spice & earth with dark florals and red roses. Photos of the Aluve vineyard, JJ & Kelly and one of the planes they flew in the Air Force. Producer history & notes...JJ and Kelly Menozzi recently established Aluve Winery. They met in the Airforce. Both hold the rank of Colonel after serving 23 years in the Airforce. They were stationed in Idaho and shared the love of wine after traveling and seeing the world's wine regions. With Walla Walla only a couple hours drive, they traveled there often. Knowing they were going to term out in the Air Force, they set their eyes on starting a winery in the area they loved. In 2010, several years before they retired from the Air Force, they bought 10 acres of land above Mill Creek and planted 6,000 vines on 5 of those acres. JJ started attending the viticulture college in Walla Walla. Kelly gained experience working the crush at Walla Walla Vintners for the 2014 harvest & JJ worked the 2015 harvest at Dunham Cellars. The Dunhams were the first people they met when we came to Walla Walla back in 2000 and they’ve been very supportive of JJ & Kelly's winery dream. All of the Walla Walla producers share knowledge freely. There is no competition. I can't say I've witnessed anything like it in any other region. The Menozzis are down to earth and they’re off to a flying start. Pun intended. I always see one new producer beginning to make a name for themselves in every region that I visit and JJ and Kelly did not disappoint. Certainly, a winery to watch going forward. I think we can thank them both for their service in the Air Force & in the vineyard. — 7 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Unmistakable Walla Walla nose. Deep leather, dark blue earthy cellared berry aroma. Dark fruits, the slightest hint of vanilla, extremely well balanced. High tannin but medium acid makes it so smooth.....with the longest finish, still building for a complete minute before it slowly lingers away. — 8 years ago

with Tammy

Renee Crawford

9.6

Fabulous merlot. Cherry and plum flavor. — 8 years ago

Dave Dahl

8.9

Wonderful birthday wine sold tongue. — 8 years ago

mathieu lapalme

Sommelier Restaurant Alep and Bistro Petit Alep

9.5

Golden Ale with meyer lemon, great new beer from Brasserie Dunham, Qc. — 9 years ago

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.9

We had this tonight in memory of our friend and winemaking colleague Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars in Walla Walla who sadly passed away. I know it's not his wine, but I also know he would've loved its green chocolate nose and rambunctious berry flavors. Rest in peace ED. Say hello to Robert Mondavi! — 10 years ago

Megan Meyer

10

Favorite! Christmas 2012! Amazing! — 11 years ago

Brian Mason

9.2

Very enjoyable Washington cab. Mellow with a pleasant finish. — 7 years ago

David True

9.1

Wonderful entry into a brand new beverage! — 7 years ago

mattswineworld

9.4

Very balanced, refreshing, and appealingly complex saison. — 7 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.1

Mature and at its peak. Drink now. Lovely — 7 years ago

Deborah Nash

9.0

Honey, apricot, mint. Lovely late harvest wine. — 8 years ago

Chris Shott

9.2

Damn good Cab — 8 years ago

Julie Gilbert

9.7

Memories from another time... — 8 years ago

Erik McLaughlin

Vice President Seven Hills Winery

9.2

2007 Dunham Lewis Vineyard Merlot, Artist Series — 9 years ago

Kir Cab

10

So smooth! Excellent!!! Like silk! — 11 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 2015 Magician is 100% Riesling from Evergreen Vineyard, located high on the cliffs high above the Columbia River in the middle of Washington State. On the nose; nice tropicals, green apple, pear, lemon, lime, a little white pepper and fresh yellow florals. On the palate, fresh, bright fruits of; green apple, lemon, lime, pineapple, green melon and guava. Spring florals, saline, chalky minerals, nice round acidity and beautiful, slightly oily, round finish. Photos of; their tasting bar, Trey Busch - Co-owner/Winemaker and old Jukebox in their tasting room. Producer/Owner notes...A Pearl Jam concert is one of the reasons Trey ended up in the Pacific NW after seeing them in his first concert ever in Atlanta. In 1992, Trey moved to the Pacific Northwest. He got a job at Nordstrom and worked there for 8 years. Trey was then offered the chance to get into the wine business with the Dunham Cellars. Eric Dunham, the winemaker and owner of Dunham Cellars help shape Trey for his career in winemaking. Trey got hooked on winemaking after his first crush at Dunham Cellars where he stayed until starting "Sleight of Hand Cellars" in 2007. — 7 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.0

Started fast but over an hour trailed off substantially. Good fruit but missing body and tannins. Drink now on the decline — 7 years ago

Justin Cykler

9.5

Sleight of Hands 2014 Force of Nature is a brilliant limited production Syrah (not yet classidied bt Delectable). A tribute to legendary winemaker Eric Dunham (RIP). — 7 years ago

Alina Ferguson

9.3

Lovely, lovely rosé. Heavy enough to not require a hot summer day to drink. Would go well with Thanksgiving fare. — 8 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.2

The nose is marvelous, the red fruit robust, and the minerality is exquisite. A treat!🍷 — 8 years ago

Todd

9.4

An impressive merlot. Big bodied like a cab and not overly sweet like some Merlots can be.

2006 Dunham Cellars Artist Series Merlot, Columbia Valley — 9 years ago

dani rivera

9.0

Arizona wines, who knew it would be so yummy!
viognier wine @ Lawrence Dunham wine tasting — 9 years ago

Renee Crawford

9.7

Wonderful Chardonnay — 11 years ago

with Steve