Dusted Valley Vintners was founded in 2003 by Chad Johnson and Corey Braunel. The winery is located in Walla Walla on the Old Milton Highway south of downtown. This summer Dusted Valley also opened a tasting room west of the crest in Woodinville’s Hollywood Vineyards Retail Center.

In terms of red wines, Dusted Valley produces a Cabernet, Cab Franc, Grenache, Malbec, and Syrah as well as several blends. The “Stained Tooth” Syrah – the name of Dusted Valley’s wine club – is a winery favorite. Dusted Valley added the “Boomtown” wines as its entry level series several years back (see a review of the 2006 Boomtown Cabernet here).

One aspect of Dusted Valley’s Walla Walla tasting room I will mention is, when I sampled these wines, it was at an impeccable wine serving temperature (all wines sampled at 63-65 degrees). Especially during the warmer months when tasting room temperatures can get into the high seventies and eighties in Walla Walla with the wines following suit, this went a long way toward helping these wines put their best foot forward.

On a less positive note, DVV’s website is woefully out of date in terms of their offerings and needs a major facelift. C’mon guys!


Wines:
Score

 Name

 Notes

 $

*

 Dusted Valley Vintners Grenache Columbia Valley 2007

 Bright, dried black cherries, ground tobacco, and a light herbal quality on an enjoyable nose. Ripe and even on the palate with an extended finish.

 $28

+

 Dusted Valley Vintners Stained Tooth Syrah Columbia Valley 2007

 Pretty floral aromatics combine with light earth. Bright and tart on the palate. A very enjoyable wine that needs food to get the most out of it.

 $26

+

 Dusted Valley Vintners Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2007

 Light floral components along with touches of chocolate and just a hint of cured meats on a very pretty nose. Tart, brightly acidic, and up front on the palate. A lot of good stuff going on here. Perhaps will come together with a bit more time. Spofford Station & Birch Creek vineyards.

 $28

*/**

 Dusted Valley Vintners Reserve Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2006

 A classic Walla Walla Valley syrah with a nose of violets, cured meats, and a touch of candied fruit. Exceptionally well balanced and put together on the palate. Picks up steam across the mid-palate but never overpowers. Holds and hangs on at the finish. Just shy of a double star (**) wine.

 $45

+/*

 Dusted Valley Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2006

 The nose is marked by bittersweet chocolate, tobacco, and dried fruit. Dry on the palate with a lot of fruit. A very good wine for the price.

 $26

+

 Dusted Valley Vintners Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley 2007

 Generous amounts of black pepper heaped over black fruit that has a touch of sweetness. Thick and chewy on the palate. Well done but a bit overwhelming.

 $35

./+

 Dusted Valley Vintners Malbec Columbia Valley 2007

 Vanilla dominates on the nose. A fair amount of greenness on the taste. Dips down and then back up. Drinking very, very young. May improve with time.

 $35

**

 Dusted Valley Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2006

 A bit of earthy funkiness,graphite, baking chocolate and spice on the nose. A big, dense, chewy wine that is round and opulent on the palate. Lots of cherry flavors. Impressive length on the finish. Best of the flight.

 $45