Dumas Station Merlot 2005 and Cabernet 2004

Dumas Station came on my radar screen in the spring of this year while wine touring in Walla Walla. I saw a bottle of their wine on the shelves of a local store and shortly thereafter noticed that one of the retailers in Seattle had picked them up. A positive Wine Spectator review later, and their wines started appearing in a number of Seattle-area stores (Note: I assume that it was the Spectator review not my own which you can see here).

Dumas Station’s wines have shown a true consistency in style and quality. The 2004 Cabernet, while not a standout, is remarkable for the fact so few Walla Walla producers were able to make wine from local fruit due to the freeze that year. The grapes from this wine were sourced from Minnick Hills Vineyard which has a slightly higher elevation and thus managed to escape the cold.

For those in the Seattle area, West Seattle Cellars will be hosting Dumas Station winemaker this Saturday from 3pm-5pm. They will be pouring their 2003-2005 Cabernet as well as their 2005 Merlot. (Note: This event is not listed on the website but was in their weekly e-mail.)

Wines:
Score	Name	Notes	$
*	Dumas Station Merlot 2005	The nose is almost reminiscent of a syrah with smoky notes predominant. On the taste, the wine has an excellent body, mid-palate and finish. Tart cherry runs throughout with herb notes showing through after the wine opens up a bit. There are a fair amount of tannins on the backend. 205 cases produced.	$24
+	Dumas Station Cabernet 2004	Sour cherries and earth aromas on first pour. Rosemary and floral notes as the wine opens up. The wine has a nice plushness at the start but thins out on the mid-palate. This is a very smooth wine with soft tannins. 95 cases produced.	$25