2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Owen Bargreen — 93 points James Suckling — 90 points
Tasting Notes
All estate grown, this 100% Chardonnay opens with aromas of Meyer lemon, citrus blossom, peach and apricot. Tropical flavors of pineapple and mango mingle with a touch of buttery richness while its bright acidity provides energy and freshness throughout the finish.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyards: Kenny Hill Estate Vineyard, Lewis Estate Vineyard
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Oak: 33% new French, 4% new American, 63% neutral
Bottled: June 6, 2019
Released: June 15, 2020
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.53
Total Acidity: 7.01 g/L
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Case:
12x 2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
The winery makes its home in a rustic, remodeled World War II era airplane hangar in Walla Walla, Washington, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020. The family-owned winery strives for excellence from vineyard to bottle, and sources fruit from several renowned estate vineyards in prime locations around the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley appellations. Dunham wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Trutina (Bordeaux-style blend), Three Legged Red (red table wine), Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay.
With a strong heritage and a brand well-known throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, we are committed to producing premium wines through gentle treatment in all phases of the winemaking process. Our goal is to bring something to the bottle that we enjoy and are proud to label with the name Dunham.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Dunham Cellars Columbia Valley Chardonnay
6 bottles for $79.99 $13.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Thanks to Alice and everyone at WCC for the opportunity to be a lab rat!
I’ll start off by saying I hope my bottle was flawed and not representative of this wine as a whole. Maybe other rats can help me and others here. The wine is a very pretty, pale yellow and had a great viscosity on the palate. That’s the end of the good things I can say. I didn’t get very much flavor or smell from this wine. The wine tasted very one note and then heat on the finish. No real discernable flavor to speak of maybe some pluot and lemon if I tried hard. This wine was so odorless and tasteless that I thought I had covid. I had to open another bottle I am familiar with and taste some food to confirm that I did still have a sense of smell and taste. Based on the bottle I received, I can’t recommend this wine. Sorry guys.
@kawichris650 I chilled it to around 50 degrees and tasted it regularly as it came to room temperature (around 75). I also tasted it over the course of 2 days.
@kevo152 Lack of fruit and such can often be a result of very light TCA contamination. Enough to ruin the wine but not enough to perceive the telltale signs. That happened to me with a bottle of VJB Barbera in their tasting room once. If I hadn’t had the same bottle a few weeks earlier I’d have just thought the wine was meh.
The Wine Enthusiast says:
88 Points. The aroma brings notes of burnt toast, apple and pineapple. The tropical flavors are more reserved than the aromas would suggest. It’s a bit of a odd mix. Perhaps some time will bring it all together. SPS 9/1/21
Spectator? Sure:
87 Points. Appealing for its snappy apple skin and spice flavors that finish on a spice note. Drink now. 1,203 cases made. — TF Web Only - 2021
The above referenced Owen Bargreen (?):
93 Points. Dunham first made this wine in 2007. A combination of Kenny Hill and Lewis Vineyard fruit, and revealing a beautiful golden hue, this shows off toasted Macadamia nut with banana and Pink Lady apple tones that all meld in the glass. The freshness and viscosity here is really good as layers of buttercream and ripe pear mingle with minerals and shades of creme brullee all impress. This finishes very long with cream and minerals. Gorgeous now, this has some good aging potential. Drink 2021-2028. 3/11/21
I will try not to let my biases get in the way, but I will say that this seemed to me a very “traditional” styled west coast chard. Light aromas of honey maybe? And some light citrus. On the palate I really couldn’t get past the oak. But very viscous mouth feel. Maybe a little lemon, vanilla? I didn’t get a lot of complexity from this one.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Dunham Cellars Columbia Valley Chardonnay - $30 = 18.75%
I have opened 4 bottles of my 12 bottle case. I keep hoping the next one will be better. Now I am discarding the rest of the case. Not worth the calories.
2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Owen Bargreen — 93 points
James Suckling — 90 points
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$270/Case at Dunham Cellars for 12x 2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 1 - Friday, Nov 5
Dunham Cellars Columbia Valley Chardonnay
6 bottles for $79.99 $13.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay
Thanks to Alice and everyone at WCC for the opportunity to be a lab rat!
I’ll start off by saying I hope my bottle was flawed and not representative of this wine as a whole. Maybe other rats can help me and others here. The wine is a very pretty, pale yellow and had a great viscosity on the palate. That’s the end of the good things I can say. I didn’t get very much flavor or smell from this wine. The wine tasted very one note and then heat on the finish. No real discernable flavor to speak of maybe some pluot and lemon if I tried hard. This wine was so odorless and tasteless that I thought I had covid. I had to open another bottle I am familiar with and taste some food to confirm that I did still have a sense of smell and taste. Based on the bottle I received, I can’t recommend this wine. Sorry guys.
@kevo152 Wow. Just saved me from 12 bottles of plug you nose and chug wine. Thanks.
@osiris3mc Again, I hope my bottle was off and someone else can chime in.
@kevo152
What temperature was the wine when you drank it? That can have quite an impact on aromas and flavors (or lack thereof).
@kawichris650 I chilled it to around 50 degrees and tasted it regularly as it came to room temperature (around 75). I also tasted it over the course of 2 days.
@kevo152 Thank you for reporting.
@kevo152 Lack of fruit and such can often be a result of very light TCA contamination. Enough to ruin the wine but not enough to perceive the telltale signs. That happened to me with a bottle of VJB Barbera in their tasting room once. If I hadn’t had the same bottle a few weeks earlier I’d have just thought the wine was meh.
@kevo152 @klezman
Peter should be working those grapes!
Reviews you say?
The Wine Enthusiast says:
88 Points. The aroma brings notes of burnt toast, apple and pineapple. The tropical flavors are more reserved than the aromas would suggest. It’s a bit of a odd mix. Perhaps some time will bring it all together. SPS 9/1/21
Spectator? Sure:
87 Points. Appealing for its snappy apple skin and spice flavors that finish on a spice note. Drink now. 1,203 cases made. — TF Web Only - 2021
The above referenced Owen Bargreen (?):
93 Points. Dunham first made this wine in 2007. A combination of Kenny Hill and Lewis Vineyard fruit, and revealing a beautiful golden hue, this shows off toasted Macadamia nut with banana and Pink Lady apple tones that all meld in the glass. The freshness and viscosity here is really good as layers of buttercream and ripe pear mingle with minerals and shades of creme brullee all impress. This finishes very long with cream and minerals. Gorgeous now, this has some good aging potential. Drink 2021-2028. 3/11/21
https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2021/3/11/dunham-cellars
fwiw
@kaolis Vinous/Tanzer gave this 85 points in Oct 2020. No real note though, simply says “also recommended”…
fwtw
I will try not to let my biases get in the way, but I will say that this seemed to me a very “traditional” styled west coast chard. Light aromas of honey maybe? And some light citrus. On the palate I really couldn’t get past the oak. But very viscous mouth feel. Maybe a little lemon, vanilla? I didn’t get a lot of complexity from this one.
@nccrocker Thank you for the rattage.
@nccrocker yes, thanks. ‘Short and sweet’ they say, and to the point. I think it may be THE shortest rattage that I’ve seen here.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Dunham Cellars Columbia Valley Chardonnay - $30 = 18.75%
Need some unoaked chards on here at some point please.
Thanks to the Lab Rats. You saved me the effort in considering to buy or not.
Too bad its not their Syrah!
I’d buy cases of that juice.
@wino121 Or their Trutina!
I have opened 4 bottles of my 12 bottle case. I keep hoping the next one will be better. Now I am discarding the rest of the case. Not worth the calories.